As a health care professional. it is vital you understand the concepts behind the legal right of a competent person to refuse potentially life-saving treatment we have already discussed this under the ethical principle of autonomy. There are legal documents which allow a person to direct who will make those decisions if they are unable if the person is judged incompetent in any way. However, we can experience legal battles over who has the legal power to make decisions about a person's health care if that person is judged incompetent. So. what is your role in all of this? There are multiple documents. arguably with some legal power behind them, that every adult can complete that provide direction regarding their wishes if they should become unable to do so directly. Watch the video: Healthcare Power of Attorney There can be great difference of opinion between families, between healthcare providers, and between the courts over what to do if a person's wishes are not known. It is vital that you are aware of and document the existence of advanced directives. It is vital you know if and when those advanced directives are activated (generally this requires two physicians to document the patient is not decisional). and the status of all of this is communicated to the proper people. You may very well be the one who first realizes that there is a storm brewing and request notification of your organization's Risk Management or Legal Representative. Watch the video: Ten Years After Terri Schiavo. Death Debates Still Divide Us: Bioethics press your thoughts regarding a controversial medical right to lifeiright to die dilemma. include each of the following points in your discussion: Choose a well-known right to lifeiright to die case (Terri Schiavo. Karen Ann Quinlan. Bobbi Brown) Summarizethefacts of the case Discuss your feelings about the end result Hypothesize what might have been different if an Advanced Directive existed