• The brief does not have to be longer than two pages in length and should follow this format:
  • Each case is given a title that signals the type of case about to be reviewed.
  • Case citation. A case citation describes the identity of the parties in the case, the text in which the case can be found, and the year in which the case was decided. Case: Chamblin v. K-Mart Corp., 272 Ga. App. 240, 612 S.E.2d 25 (2005)
  • A review of the details of the case. These should be summarized in clear, concise, chronological statements and be numerically ordered. Only the major facts, important to the issues in the case, should be included.
  • The issues discussed in any given case are selected for review on the basis of medical and legal pertinence to the health care professional. Although any one case may have multiple issues, only those considered pertinent are reviewed here. Students should phrase the issue of the case in the form of one or two brief statements (e.g., the issue is whether or not a woman's right to privacy allows her to have an abortion).
  • The court's ruling based on the facts, issues, and applicable laws pertaining to the issue in the case, which should be phrased in the form of a summary statement.
  • The rationale behind how the court arrived at its decision based on the facts, issues, and relevant laws surrounding the case. Students should summarize in numerical steps the reasoning of the court in deciding the case.
• Discuss the issues that may impact the people involved (e.g., family members, physicians, other caregivers including nurses, chaplains, ethics committee members).
• If you were friendly with the patient, would it affect your ability to give an objective opinion?
• Explain how moral values, religious beliefs, education, and life experiences of both caregivers and patients complicate the resolution of health care dilemmas.
• Describe how financial concerns can affect the decision-making process.
• Describe how corporate culture can affect the decision-making process.