Withholding and withdrawing life-sustaining medical treatment

• At common law, a competent adult can refuse life-sustaining medical treatment, either contemporaneously or through an advance directive which will operate at a later time when the adult’s capacity is lost. • Legislation in most Australian jurisdictions also provides for a competent adult to complete an advance directive that refuses life-sustaining medical treatment. • At common law, a court exercising its parens patriae jurisdiction can consent to, or authorise, the withdrawal or withholding of life-sustaining medical treatment from an adult or child who lacks capacity if that is in the best interests of the person. A court may also declare that the withholding or withdrawal of treatment is lawful. • Guardianship legislation in all jurisdictions allows a substitute decision-maker, in an appropriate case, to refuse life-sustaining medical treatment for an adult who lacks capacity. • In terms of children, a parent may refuse life-sustaining medical treatment for his or her child if it is in the child’s best interests. • While a refusal of life-sustaining medical treatment by a competent child may be valid, this decision can be overturned by a court. • At common law and generally under guardianship statutes, demand for futile treatment need not be complied with by doctors.

Prevalence and predictors of advance directives in Australia

Background Advance care planning is regarded as integral to better patient outcomes yet little is known about the prevalence of advance directives in Australia. Aims To determine the prevalence of advance directives (ADs) in the Australian population. Methods A national telephone survey about estate and advance planning. Sample was stratified by age (18-45 and >45 years) and quota sampling occurred based on population size in each State and Territory. Results Fourteen percent of the Australian population has an AD. There is State variation with people from South Australia and Queensland more likely to have an AD than people from other states. Will making and particularly completion of a financial enduring power of attorney are associated with higher rates of AD completion. Standard demographic variables were of limited use in predicting whether a person would have an AD. Conclusions Despite efforts to improve uptake of advance care planning (including ADs), barriers remain. One likely trigger for completing an AD and advance care planning is undertaking a wider future planning process (e.g. making a will or financial enduring power of attorney). This presents opportunities to increase advance care planning but steps are needed to ensure that planning which occurs outside the health system is sufficiently informed and supported by health information so that it is useful in the clinical setting. Variations by State could also suggest that redesign of regulatory frameworks (such as a user-friendly and well publicised form backed by statute) may help improve uptake of ADs.

Palliative care and other physicians’ knowledge, attitudes and practice relating to the law on withholding/withdrawing life-sustaining treatment: Survey results

Background: To effectively care for people who are terminally ill, including those without decision-making capacity, palliative care physicians must know and understand the legal standing of Advance Care Planning (ACP) in their jurisdiction of practice. This includes the use of advance directives/living wills (ADs) and substitute decision-makers (SDMs) who can legally consent to or refuse treatment if there is no valid AD. Aim: The study aimed to investigate the knowledge, attitudes and practices of medical specialists most often involved in end-of-life care in relation to the law on withholding/ withdrawing life-sustaining treatment (WWLST) from adults without decision-making capacity. Design/participants: A pre-piloted survey was posted to specialists in palliative, emergency, geriatric, renal and respiratory medicine, intensive care and medical oncology in three Australian States. Surveys were analysed using SPSS20 and SAS 9.3. Results: The overall response rate was 32% (867/2702); 52% from palliative care specialists. Palliative Care specialists and Geriatricians had significantly more positive attitudes towards the law (χ242 = 94.352; p < 0.001) and higher levels of knowledge about the WWLST law (χ27 = 30.033; p < 0.001), than did the other specialists, while still having critical gaps in their knowledge. Conclusions: A high level of knowledge of the law is essential to ensure that patients’ wishes and decisions, expressed through ACP, are respected to the maximum extent possible within the law, thereby according with the principles and philosophy of palliative care. It is also essential to protect health professionals from legal action resulting from unauthorised provision or removal of treatment.

Medical education and law: Withholding/withdrawing treatment from adults without capacity

BACKGROUND Law is increasingly involved in clinical practice, particularly at the end of life, but undergraduate and postgraduate education in this area remains unsystematic. We hypothesised that attitudes to and knowledge of the law governing withholding/withdrawing treatment from adults without capacity (the WWLST law) would vary and demonstrate deficiencies among medical specialists. AIMS We investigated perspectives, knowledge and training of medical specialists in the three largest (populations and medical workforces) Australian states, concerning the WWLST law. METHODS Following expert legal review, specialist focus groups, pre-testing and piloting in each state, seven specialties involved with end-of-life care were surveyed, with a variety of statistical analyses applied to the responses. RESULTS Respondents supported the need to know and follow the law. There were mixed views about its helpfulness in medical decision-making. Over half the respondents conceded poor knowledge of the law; this was mirrored by critical gaps in knowledge that varied by specialty. There were relatively low but increasing rates of education from the undergraduate to continuing professional development (CPD) stages. Mean knowledge score did not vary significantly according to undergraduate or immediate postgraduate training, but CPD training, particularly if recent, resulted in greater knowledge. Case-based workshops were the preferred CPD instruction method. CONCLUSIONS Teaching of current and evolving law should be strengthened across all stages of medical education. This should improve understanding of the role of law, ameliorate ambivalence towards the law, and contribute to more informed deliberation about end-of-life issues with patients and families.

Can a court protect an ex-addict from themselves?

In Hewitt v Bayntum & Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd [2015] QSC 250 the court was asked to sanction a compromise of a proceeding by a plaintiff who, though a recovering drug addict, was able to give instructions and understand the proposed compromise.

Unpacking the perceived opportunity to misbehave: The influence of spatio-temporal and social dimensions on consumer misbehavior

Purpose This study aims to use opportunity as a theoretical lens to investigate how the spatio-temporal and social dimensions of the consumption environment create perceived opportunities for consumers to misbehave. Design/methodology/approach Drawing on routine activity theory and social impact theory, the authors use two experiments to demonstrate that spatio-temporal and social dimensions can explain consumer theft in retail settings. Findings Study 1 reveals mixed empirical support for the basic dimensions of routine activity theory, which posits that the opportunity to thieve is optimised when a motivated offender, suitable target and the absence of a capable formal guardian transpire in time and space. Extending the notion of guardianship, Study 2 tests social impact theory and shows that informal guardianship impacts the likelihood of theft under optimal routine activity conditions. Originality/value The study findings highlight important implications for academicians and retail managers: rather than focusing on the uncontrollable characteristics of thieving offenders, more controllable spatio-temporal and social factors of the retail environment can be actively monitored and manipulated to reduce perceived opportunities for consumer misbehaviour.

Doctors’ perspectives on law and life-sustaining treatment: Survey design and recruitment strategies for a challenging cohort

- Background Palliative medicine and other specialists play significant legal roles in decisions to withhold and withdraw life-sustaining treatment at the end of life. Yet little is known about their knowledge of or attitudes to the law, and the role they think it should play in medical practice. Consideration of doctors’ views is critical to optimizing patient outcomes at the end of life. However, doctors are difficult to engage as participants in empirical research, presenting challenges for researchers seeking to understand doctors’ experiences and perspectives. - Aims To determine how to engage doctors involved in end-of-life care in empirical research about knowledge of the law and the role it plays in medical practice at the end of life. - Methods Postal survey of all specialists in palliative medicine, emergency medicine, geriatric medicine, intensive care, medical oncology, renal medicine, and respiratory medicine in three Australian states: New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland. The survey was sent in hard copy with two reminders and a follow up reminder letter was also sent to the directors of hospital emergency departments. Awareness was further promoted through engagement with the relevant medical colleges and publications in professional journals; various incentives to respond were also used. The key measure is the response rate of doctors to the survey. - Results Thirty-two percent of doctors in the main study completed their survey with response rate by specialty ranging from 52% (palliative care) to 24% (medical oncology). This overall response rate was twice that of the reweighted pilot study (16%). - Conclusions Doctors remain a difficult cohort to engage in survey research but strategic recruitment efforts can be effective in increasing response rate. Collaboration with doctors and their professional bodies in both the development of the survey instrument and recruitment of participants is essential.

Juventude e consumo nas camadas populares

Nos últimos anos, busca-se através da articulação entre os conceitos de hipermodernidade, neoliberalismo, globalização, mídia, sociedade de consumo, transgressão, tentar compreender a complexidade da sociedade contemporânea. Neste contexto, os jovens crescem marcados pelas contradições e paradoxos gerados pela sociedade capitalista, em meio aos valores da sociedade de consumo, da circulação de um mundo globalizado e a crescente desigualdade social em alguns países como o Brasil. Este trabalho surge a partir da minha vivência com crianças e adolescentes de famílias atendidas no Conselho Tutelar do Município do Rio de Janeiro e, posteriormente, como assessora de direção de um Centro de Referência Especial de Assistência Social, localizado na região metropolitana do Rio de Janeiro, em área empobrecida. Percebe-se a transformação do conceito de consumo de bens para satisfação das necessidades em promessa de felicidade através da satisfação dos desejos, sendo estes últimos constantemente sugestionados aos sujeitos pela mídia. Percebe-se que a juventude está atravessada pelo sistema capitalista e sofre grandes pressões para se integrar em uma sociedade de consumo. Como conseqüências desta tentativa de integração, muitas vezes o jovem é levado à transgressão da lei, criando formas alternativas de acesso a esses desejados bens que o levam, e a suas famílias, à tutela do Estado, que percebe o fenômeno de forma isolada e individualizada, tendo dificuldades de propor saídas que de fato enfrentem os valores e as perversões do sistema.

Separações conjugais em datas comemorativas

Visando apontar as vicissitudes que possam estar relacionadas ao fato de alguns rompimentos conjugais ocorrerem em datas comemorativas foi produzida a dissertação. O tema surgiu em pesquisas sobre separação conjugal e guarda de filhos do Instituto de Psicologia da Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, nas quais se observou que as dissoluções que ocorreram nas datas festivas eram relevantes. Foram desenvolvidas análises bibliográficas sobre casamento, dissolução da conjugalidade, comemorações, memórias e rituais. Devido à interdisciplinaridade da temática realizou-se estudos em Psicologia, Antropologia, Direito, História e Sociologia. Pretendeu-se verificar quais os sentidos atribuídos pelos ex-cônjuges à data comemorativa na qual ocorreu a separação. Buscou-se constatar se houve alteração ou reconfiguração do significado das datas após o rompimento e visou-se apresentar reflexões que possam auxiliar a prática clínica e jurídica, mediante a atuação do profissional psicólogo nas questões tangentes à separação conjugal. A metodologia utilizada foi de História de Oral História de vida. Foram entrevistados quatro sujeitos, um rapaz que tomou a iniciativa no seu aniversário, uma moça que anunciou a decisão no aniversário de vinte seis anos de casamento, uma mulher que recebeu a notícia no Natal e um homem que foi comunicado no Ano Novo. Todos são do Estado do Rio de Janeiro e de classe média. A partir do discurso foi realizada a análise qualitativa dos dados, classificando-se as respostas em categorias essenciais à pesquisa. Como resultados verificou-se, no que se refere às datas comemorativas, que os entrevistados vivenciaram esses momentos como se estas possuíssem algo de mágico. Como se nestas épocas todos os problemas pudessem ser colocados de lado e tréguas pudessem ser feitas. Entretanto, os relatos mostraram que a tal mágica não ocorreu, as dificuldades continuaram expostas e, pelo contrário, o clima do evento evidenciou as convergências ficando difícil progredir como se nada estivesse acontecendo. Os sujeitos que tiveram a iniciativa em terminar com o relacionamento afirmaram que as datas das bodas de casamento e o aniversário natalício deram força e coragem que não tinham tido até aquele momento. Este ato favoreceu a sensação de realização e conquista que, no entanto, vinham misturada de dor, frustração e mágoa. Os sujeitos que receberam o comunicado da decisão do rompimento do casamento no Natal e no Réveillon reconheceram que a noticia configurou-se numa surpresa impactante, ao ponto de provocar silêncio. Identificou-se que não houve reconfiguração nos sentidos atribuídos às datas comemorativas, ao contrário o rompimento nestes eventos sociais fortaleceram o acontecimento. No entanto, foi possível perceber uma adição ao calendário oficial. O Natal, o Réveillon, as bodas e o aniversário é, também, o dia do rompimento conjugal. Soma-se marcos e fortifica-se o evento na memória dos sujeitos que vivenciaram estas histórias. Dentre as contribuições para a prática da Psicologia Jurídica e da clínica evidenciou-se que estes profissionais devem estar atentos ao caráter cíclico das festividades que estão nos calendários, configurando-se em momentos de transição, de inícios e fins.

Atravessamentos entre a escola e o conselho tutelar: garantia de direitos e práticas de controle

O presente estudo objetiva analisar os atravessamentos na relação entre a escola e o conselho tutelar que é um órgão não jurisdicional criado a partir do Estatuto da Criança e do adolescente com a função de garantir os direitos infanto-juvenis. Entre tais direitos, destaca-se o da educação que acaba por exigir que todas as crianças frequentem à escola e que as famílias sejam punidas caso isto não ocorra. A partir de então, ao cartografar o cotidiano entre estes dois equipamentos e problematizar as suas práticas por um caminho genealógico como propôs Foucault, interessa refletir: por que o direito de frequentar à escola se torna uma imposição? O que ela produz? E o conselho tutelar garante direitos ou é um dispositivo de controle? As respostas a estas questões foram pensadas ao longo deste trabalho, embora não se pretenda aqui fornecer respostas definitivas para tais questionamentos, pois o mais importante é o processo de pensar e refletir que provoca mudanças no objeto de estudo que vai se desenhando durante a pesquisa e no próprio pesquisador. Assim, a escola e Conselho Tutelar atuam muita vezes no controle da população produzindo uma subjetividade que acaba por definir modos de ser, pensar e sentir. Entretanto, a análise das tensões entre estes equipamentos e seus usuários revela a potência destes espaços que podem ser ressignificados por outras lógicas que rompam com a subjetividade capitalística e produzam deslocamentos e outras possibilidades de práticas coletivas que potencializem a vida.

A honra enquanto bem jurídico: sobre a tutela penal da autoestima e da consideração social

Para que possa alcançar sua ratio essendi, isto é, promover a convivência pacífica, o Estado utiliza-se do Direito para realizar o controle social e, em última análise, acolher os cidadãos que vivem sob a sua regência. Neste sentido, o Direito Penal adquire especial importância, tendo em vista deter a incumbência de enunciar comportamentos especialmente ofensivos para a vida em sociedade, prevendo e fixando, para cada conduta criminosa, a aplicação de penas ou medidas de segurança. É certo, de igual forma, que este ramo é também a ultima ratio, ou seja, a última instância de proteção, razão pela qual só pode ser acionado a partir do fracasso ou ineficiência de todos os demais meios de resguardo judicial, eis que o poder punitivo investe, via de regra, contra o bem mais precioso do ser humano, quer seja, sua liberdade. Levando estes pressupostos em conta, assoma uma relevante inquietação: a honra, aspecto inerente à personalidade do homem, dadas as suas características dogmáticas, ainda merece a proteção do Direito Penal? Será que não existem outros meios aptos a trazer suficiente amparo legal? É a partir destas questões que se desenvolve a presente dissertação. Para tanto, buscar-se-á, em um primeiro momento, entender a maneira como os valores e interesses mais caros ao homem adentram na seara penal (teoria do bem jurídico). Após, empreender-se-á efetiva imersão no tema de pesquisa, buscando entender as bases que historicamente assentaram e determinaram a tutela jurídica da honra (bipartição metodológica), além de promover diagnóstico da guarida fornecida pelo Direito Civil e pelo Direito Penal, de modo a compreender se a honra civil difere da honra penal. Por fim, será feito uma análise crítica da honra enquanto bem jurídico penal, com o fito conclusivo de trazer apontamentos quanto aos horizontes futuros da tutela deste valor individual.

The Experience and Practice of Approved Social Workers in Northern Ireland

This article reports on the first extensive survey of Approved Social Worker (ASW) activity under the Mental Health (Northern Ireland) Order 1986. The integrated health and social services organizational structure, the adverse effects on individual mental health of the legacy of thirty years of civil conflict and the move from hospital to community care are significant features which have influenced the delivery of mental health social work services locally. The practice and experience of ASWs was surveyed by postal questionnaire and user and carer experience of compulsory hospital admission was investigated by a series of focus groups. The study revealed that two&hyphen;thirds of ASWs had experience of acting as an applicant in compulsory hospital admission during the past two years. Nearly half (42 per cent) of these ASWs had reported experience of between one and five admissions and one&hyphen;tenth had completed over twenty admissions in the two&hyphen;year period. In only a small minority of cases did joint face&hyphen;to&hyphen;face assessment with the General Practitioner (doctor) take place; nearly half of ASWs reported difficulties in obtaining transport; and only one&hyphen;fifth of ASWs had experience of acting as a second approved social worker. Half of ASWs reported experience of guardianship, either as applicant or in making the recommendation. Both service users and carers reported a lack of understanding about the role of the ASW and complained about the lack of alternative resources that ASWs could use to prevent hospital admissions. These findings are discussed and a number of recommendations are proposed for improvements to approved social worker practice.

An international comparison of legal frameworks for supported and substitute decision-making in mental health services

There have been important recent developments in law, research, policy and practice relating to supporting people with decision-making impairments, in particular when a person’s wishes and preferences are unclear or inaccessible. A driver in this respect is the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD); the implications of the CRPD for policy and professional practices are currently debated. This article reviews and compares four legal frameworks for supported and substitute decision-making for people whose decision-making ability is impaired. In particular, it explores how these frameworks may apply to people with mental health problems. The four jurisdictions are: Ontario, Canada; Victoria, Australia; England and Wales, United Kingdom (UK); and Northern Ireland, UK. Comparisons and contrasts are made in the key areas of: the legal framework for supported and substitute decision-making; the criteria for intervention; the assessment process; the safeguards; and issues in practice. Thus Ontario has developed a relatively comprehensive, progressive and influential legal framework over the past thirty years but there remain concerns about the standardisation of decision-making ability assessments and how the laws work together. In Australia, the Victorian Law Reform Commission (2012) has recommended that the six different types of substitute decision-making under the three laws in that jurisdiction, need to be simplified, and integrated into a spectrum that includes supported decision-making. In England and Wales the Mental Capacity Act 2005 has a complex interface with mental health law. In Northern Ireland it is proposed to introduce a new Mental Capacity (Health, Welfare and Finance) Bill that will provide a unified structure for all substitute decision-making. The discussion will consider the key strengths and limitations of the approaches in each jurisdiction and identify possible ways that further progress can be made in law, policy and practice.

O Planeamento estratégico nos hospitais portugueses num contexto de austeridade: o caso particular dos Hospitais E.P.E.

Dissertação apresentada para obtenção do grau de Mestre em Contabilidade e Finanças Orientador: Professor Doutor José Freitas Santos

Da responsabilidade civil por abandono afetivo

This study, in the Family Law area, aims to examine the civil liability for emotional distance from a multidisciplinary perspective. The work and reflection made thereunder tend to corroborate the cognizance that self-representation, sociability and the ability of future adults to define their life’s projects, depend, to a large extent, on the emotional stability and maturity that has been assured to them, as children, by the material and emotional care that has been provided to them by both parents. It is therefore crucial to tend to the feelings of loss and to the potential lack of self-esteem that the affective rupture with either parents may cause. Thus, we promote an analysis of the sustainability, under Portuguese law, of the imposition of compensatory measures, independent from other injunctions foreseen in civil and guardianship law, upon the dissolution of family ties in result of a guilty injury of parental obligations, which have caused serious and evident injuries to the children.