Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Death Systems: Matters of Public Policy

1. The term life-preserving coffin refers to one that is

a. hermetically sealed.

b. elaborate and memorable.

c. equipped with a device to ensure very slow decay of the corpse.

d. equipped with a signaling device.

2. Clinical death is determined by all of the following EXCEPT

a. cessation of heartbeat

b. cessation of respiration

c. deterioration of the body's systems and organs

d. absence of brain activity and a flat electroencephalogram

3. The Uniform Determination of Death Act was drafted by the

a. American Bar Association

b. President's Commission for the Study of Ethical Problems in Medicine

c. Congressional Task Force on Brain Death

d. American Medical Association

4. An accurate legal definition of death is necessary to

a. clarify questions related to the use of respirators and forced feedings.

b. determine when it is permissible to remove organs for transplantation.

c. improve record keeping and documentation.

d. confirm when life-sustaining procedures are needed.

5. Which of the following statements is true?

a. Plans for organ donation should not be discussed with family members to avoid potential conflict.

b. Hospital personnel always obtain permission from the next of kin before using donated organs.

c. Plans for organ donation should be discussed with family members.

d. Hospital personnel are required to refrain from asking the next of kind about organ donations unless

there is a clear indication that the deceased wanted to make such a gift.

6. The practice of artificially sustaining vital bodily functions after a person has been legally declared dead until

organs can be harvested involves ethical questions about

1. how life and death are defined.

2. when it is permissible to remove organs for transplantation.

3. public acceptance of xenotransplantation.

4. public acceptance of transplanting isolated cells and tissues.

a. 1 and 2

b. 1 and 3

c. 2 and 4

d. 3 and 4

7. The modes of death commonly recognized by law include all of the following categories EXCEPT

a. accident.

b. homicide.

c. mature death.

d. suicide.

8. For a person who dies as a result of disease, the death certificate is usually signed by the

a. county coroner.

b. state medical examiner.

c. attending physician.

d. next of kin.

9. Autopsies are required in all of the following instances EXCEPT

a. when a death occurs in jails or other governmental institutions.

b. when a death occurs at home and an attending physician signs the death certificate.

c. when a death occurs in health care facilities and negligence is suspected.

d. when a death occurs in circumstances where homicide or suicide is suspected.

T F 10. Because of advances in medical technology, the question of when death occurs has

become more complicated to answer.

T F 11. The approach to defining and determining death that is concerned with the irreversible loss of

the capacity for consciousness or social Interaction has as its focus the central nervous system.

T F 12. The “higher-brain” concept of death has been nearly universally accepted.

T F 13. A death certificate constitutes legal proof of death and is required in all jurisdictions in the

United States.