Question: 1. As Health Care Manager overseeing health professionals, your staff may be required to withhold care from a dying patient to respect the wishes of that patient. If the patient is a child, it is by the wishes of the parent/caregiver/or state agency. Many times patients or their representative make these difficult choices based on cultural or religious beliefs. These beliefs may be different from your staff members' beliefs. How would you counsel your staff when faced with such a situation?

2. When can a parent refuse to consent to a lifesaving procedure for his or her child? What are the ethical implications? What are the legal implications (when is it reportable)?

3. Do your findings change if it is a senior being cared for by an adult child making these decisions? Why do you think senior abuse is less reported than child abuse in caregiving decisions?

4. Discuss when it is appropriate for society or physicians to intervene when a parent or guardian makes medical decisions for a child. In other words, when does refusal of medical care become neglect rather than respecting free will? What can you base this on from the readings?

5. Discuss the interpretation of this statement as it applies to our discussion: "An ethical perspective and a legal perspective may be in conflict when evaluating patient consent for treatment."