Abstract
This paper looks at the legal and ethical issues of advanced directives and living wills. It gives a sample of a living will, and examples of when advanced directives, patient self-determination, the right to refuse treatment and informed consent are used.

From the Paper
"Under the U S federal law of the Patient Self-Determination Act, patients in most health care institutions are informed of their rights to participate in health care decisions and their right to have an Advanced Directive Center. There are different types of advanced directives and they fall into two main categories: instructive or proxy. Instructive directives allow the patient to state their preferences regarding the provision of specific therapies or classes of therapies such as no blood transfusions, no CPR. Living wills are the most common type..."

Tags:advanced directives, living wills, patients, informed consent

Abstract
This paper looks at some of the controversy surrounding health care directives. The paper explains what a health directive is, looks at the purpose of health directives, explores the problems and controversy associated with them, and suggests a possible solution to these problems. Appended to the paper are notations concerning laws on health care directives, quotes about advanced directives from medical professionals, and a statement on health care directives made by a bioethicist.

From the Paper
"The past few decades have seen an increase in law suits revolving around the final medical wishes of those who fall ill. Media coverage has provided the nation with front row coverage when it comes to people in comas, vegetative states, and no hope of recovery. Family members are often pitted against each other and the hospitals as the patient lays waiting for a decision to be made. One of the things that has been increasing in popularity to prevent such problems is the use of advance directives. While advance directives are gaining in popularity and power their relative infancy creates an atmosphere for problems. Advance directives can lay to rest painful family decisions, as well as doctor decisions that may or may not agree with the family. They provide a blue print of the patient's wishes that everybody can follow."

Tags:supervision, medical, decision, care, legal, documents, vegetative, state, communicate, wishes, incapacitated

Abstract
In this article, the writer discusses that the role of the social worker as patient advocate is an important one, especially in light of the shift from acute cause of death to chronic illnesses and quality-of-life issues in end-of-life situations. This paper examines the role of living wills and advance directives in light of the services a social worker provides. The opinion stressed is that social workers should not be involved in the education of the chronically ill patients regarding living wills; that it is the responsibility of the physicians, as social workers can not explain the clinical (medical) issues of the advance directive.

From the Paper
"The role of the social worker as patient advocate is an important one, especially in light of the shift from acute cause of death to chronic illnesses and quality-of-life issues in end-of-life situations. This paper examines the role of living wills and advance directives in light of the services a social worker provides. The opinion stressed is that social workers should not be involved in the education of the chronically ill patients regarding living wills; that it is the responsibility of the physicians, as social workers can not explain the clinical (medical) issues of the advance directive."

Tags:medical, living, will

Abstract
The paper discusses end-of-life decisions, advance directives and patient advocacy that are issues within the scope of the health care social worker. The paper shows how the complexity of legal and medical issues involved in the creation of a living will and/or providing surrogate instructions is beyond the medical or legal training of the social worker.

From the Paper
"A social worker acts as a patient advocate. Social workers are charged with promoting patient respect and respect in treatment in end-of-life situations. The National Association of Social Workers was one of the first professional organizations to actively participate in support of the ethical dilemmas inherent in caring for individuals during end of life circumstances by issuing the formal policy statement "Client Self-Determination in End-of-Life Decisions in 1993 (Luptak, 2004). In the area of living wills, the social worker should only be part of a team that can help you address end-of-life issues and decisions and the member of the team to assure that other healthcare providers such as doctors and other facility staff know of your decisions ("How social workers," 2004). In the health care social worker's job, no task is more important than advocating for patients' wishes in end of life decisions."

Tags:patient, advocacy, end-of-life, issues, terminal, illness, physicians, lawsuits

Abstract
This paper explains the concept of an advanced directive - where adults make decisions concerning their final days in advance. The purposes of having an advance directive are also explained in the paper. The author justifies the importance of following an advance directive not only because it is a legal and binding agreement, but also because it can spare anguished family members from making difficult decisions. However, many ethical issues ensue when family members disagree with the directives and the paper discusses scenarios where opposition to an advance directive might have merit.

Outline:
Introduction
Purpose of an Advance Directive
Why It Is Important To Follow an Advance Directive
Opposing Positions May Have Merit
Gray Areas in Following An Advance Directive
Arguments for Following an Advance Directive
Research Concerning Whether to Follow or Not
Conclusion
References

From the Paper
"Adults have the right and obligation to make decisions concerning their final days in advance. Whether or not to decline life support if death is imminent, or if a coma state becomes permanent is usually an ethical opinion which has already been formed and the adult who makes a directive concerning their own life under those conditions may make this action permanent by creating a living will or a previously prepared power of attorney, or directive which appoints a health care representative which the doctor may ask the patient to prepare in advance and keeps in the patient's file. It is the view of the writer of this paper that a person's advance directive should be followed, no matter how difficult it may be for the family or medical personnel."

Tags:medical ethics, law, health system

Abstract
This paper outlines a strategy for teaching the approach of advanced directives conversations to a group of nurses in long-term care. The paper maintains that terminally ill people, elderly and those who are currently living through their end of life are within their rights to have a better, more comprehensive and caring system to help them make and uphold their decisions about end-of-life care.

Outline:
Introduction
Part A Research Base
Presentation Plan
Conclusion

From the Paper
"The older document, titled the living will is important but does not always demonstrate the whole scope of medical care that might be offered an individual if he or she is faced with a specific medical care decision and may need to be amended to include the determination of a proxy for the individual, before such time as one is needed. (Burnell, 1993, p. 219) As such stand alone Advanced Directive documents tend to be more reflective of patient rights (Galambos, 1998, p. 275) as well as very specific medical treatment plans that the patient might opt into or out of given his or her current state of health and his or her personal beliefs and or desires regarding end of life. (Mcnamara, 2001, p. 19) (Shannon & Walter, 2005, p. 651) (Hardwig, 2000, p. 28) Recent legal decisions as well as universal and institutional protocols have stressed individual rights for end of life decision making, yet there are significant issues with cognitive impaired patients, often suffering from deteriorating diseases making decisions, at different stages of disease process. (Kunkel & Wellin, 2006, p. 6) (Lacey, 2006, p. 189)"

Tags:terminal, illness, elderly, treatment, healthcare

Abstract
The paper discusses how nurses are usually the daily care-givers of patients in nursing homes and hospitals. The paper explains that unlike the patient's doctor, the nurse frequently has time for more friendly and personal discourse with the patient or the patient's family, outside of the realm of healthcare, which may permit him or her to establish trust that other healthcare personnel might not be able to share. The paper discusses how in such an event, the nurse might be able to have an impact on what end-of-life decisions the patient or his or her family might make.

From the Paper
"Many Americans find it difficult to discuss death, or even to think about it at times. However, all human beings must eventually face that end. The inability to discuss this inevitable end often creates difficulty for the individual's family members, should he or she become incapacitated without leaving notification of what should be done if extreme measures need to be taken due to severe injury or illness. A great deal of confusion and possible contention can be avoided during such difficult times if the older adult family member has left an advance directive. Advance directives take many forms. Some of the more common of..."

Tags:nursing, directives, malpractice

Abstract
This paper explains that the existence of a union within a team culture can be detrimental to promoting the fundamental concepts of self-directed teamwork. The author points out that, while it would seem that the political problems could possibly be overcome as trust builds over time, the basic problems are the seniority provisions of collective bargaining agreements versus the basic concepts of self-directed teamwork. The paper states that, as long as the seniority rules with respect to job promotions and craft boundaries continue to exist, unionized companies will never be able to fully realize the benefits of a self-directed team-based work force and, if not corrected, unionized companies will continue to pay out huge production bonuses but only get a fraction of the pay off.

Table of Contents
Terms Defined
The Issue of Union Seniority versus Team Culture
Union Politics
Conclusion

From the Paper
"In the 1980's, while American manufacturing companies were utilizing organizational charts and multi-layered management personnel, foreign countries were restructuring their organizations to be streamlined, flexible, and responsive to customer needs. Consequently, American manufacturers lost a significant amount of business to the foreign markets. Many of the foreign manufacturers were practicing the principle that each employee had unused potential and that all organizations could run leaner by encouraging greater levels of employee participation. Manufacturers began to realize that to meet the demand for shorter delivery time and higher customer satisfaction, employees at the lower levels would have to become more responsible for the outcome of the product."

Tags:directed, seniority, employee, promotions, boundaries

Abstract
In this article, the writer presents a study of Foreign Direct Investment. The writer looks at its characteristics and the reasons it is advantageous. The writer then looks at Viet Nam and determines its history relative to foreign direct investment and the related reasons.

From the Paper
"A little over thirty years ago, the United States withdrew from Viet Nam in what amounted to the only military defeat in its history. In another fifty or a hundred years historians can decide if it really was a defeat or simply a military and diplomatic blunder of incredible proportions. In years later the United States and the Peoples Republic of Viet Nam signed a Bilateral Trade Agreement ..."

Tags:Foreign Direct Investment portfolio, export platforms, Viet Nam

Abstract
This essay answers the question of whether we live in a society dominated by other directed people. It suggests that we do live in an other directed society. The film 'Fight Club' is used in conjunction with arguments made by academics to prove this central argument.

From the Paper
"Sociologists, anthropologists, political scientists and a whole range of other researchers have been struggling with the question of what type of society we live in. Many of these researchers have taken a special interest on what informs and motivates individuals. In particular many of these researchers are interested in whether society is being dominated by other directed people."

Tags:other, directed, people