Table 1: Bioethics Topics in 2003 Undergraduate and Graduate Programs

 

Bioethics Topic

Undergraduate

Programs (n = 57)

Graduate Programs

(n = 20)

Professional codes of conduct

45

14

Patient confidentiality

46

16

Patient rights

38

16

Living wills

38

16

Patient surrogates

12

7

Withdrawing and withholding fluids or nourishment

40

12

Quality of life issues

42

14

Terminal illness

33

12

Futility

9

8

Active euthanasia

8

4

Passive euthanasia

11

7

Palliative care

29

10

Brain death

16

7

Extraordinary care

14

7

DNR (Do Not Resuscitate)

28

12

Beneficence

16

6

Proxy consent

14

10

Informed consent

25

11

Durable power of attorney

23

9

Professional negligence

19

9

Role of the registered dietitian in informal ethics consultation

35

11

Role of the registered dietitian in a formal bioethics consultation with medical chart documentation

10

2

Role of the registered dietitian as a member of a patient care facility’s

bioethics committee

17

5

 

 

Table 2: Educational Modules

 

• Module 1: Professional Codes of Conduct

ADA codes

Institutional codes

Patient confidentiality

Patient rights

 

• Module 2: In the Clinical Environment Euthanasia Laws and Rights

Withdrawing and withholding liquids and nourishment

Palliative care

Brain death

Futility

Legal terminology

- Informed consent; proxy consent

- Durable power of attorney

- Living will

- Self-determination

 

• Module 3: The Dietitian as a Consultant

In medical rounds

In clinical chart notes

In family care conferences

In patient education

In bioethics/ethics committee meetings

 

 

 

 

Table 3: Kohlberg's Six Stages of Moral Judgment

 

Level A:  Preconventional Level

 

            Stage 1. Punishment and Obedience

                        (Care needs to be given to prevent job loss)

 

            Stage 2. Individual Instrumental Purpose and Exchange

                        (Care needs to be given because I am getting paid to do so)

 

Level B:  Conventional Level

 

            Stage 3. Mutual Interpersonal Expectations, Relationships, and Conformity

                        (Care needs to be given because insurance is being paid for the service)

 

            Stage 4. Social System and Conscience Maintenance

                        (Care needs to be given hospitals exist for this reason)

 

Level C:  Postconventional and Principled Level

 

            Stage 5. Prior Rights and Social Contract or Utility

                        (Care needs to be given because this is what is expected in society) [HG checking with author]

 

            Stage 6.  The Stage of Universal Ethical Principles

(Care will be given to anyone and everyone regardless of any factor; usually too ideal and unobtainable)