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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. How do the hospital staff, except Javier, feel about Patrick?

2. Who is looking at the note at the beginning of Chapter 5?

3. How long has Patrick been in and out of the hospital?

4. How long was Patrick's central IV line supposed to last?

5. What does Patrick sometimes do to his IV line?

Short Essay Questions

1. How do the Poarches feel about the doctor they receive when they first arrive at Hermann?

2. What condition does Patrick have?

3. How does Javier feel about Patrick?

4. What does Patrick admit to doing in Chapter 7?

5. What is Armando's condition, at the beginning of Chapter 4?

6. What happens to Fran at the end of May?

7. How does Patrick feel about the hospital and its staff, compared to his home and family?

8. What is Fran's treatment when she first arrives at Hermann?

9. What are Sally Olsen's duties and abilities?

10. What question is the Committee facing in Chapter 1?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The Ethics Committee has strict rules regarding when it is appropriate to withdraw a patient's life support. Do you agree with the rules and standards they have? Why or why not? Do you believe it is ever appropriate to withdraw life support from a patient? Why or why not? If you were the family of one of the patients at Hermann, what would you have done, and why? Be sure to cite specific examples from the text to support your thesis.

Essay Topic 2

Most of the patients Belkin discusses are poor, and cannot afford their medical care. What do you think a hospital should be required to do in situations when people cannot afford their own care? Should the hospitals be responsible for giving people all of the care they need, regardless of the cost, and give the uninsured equal treatment? Or should there be a limit to what hospitals are required to provide, due to financial limitations? Be sure to cite specific examples from the text to support your thesis.

Essay Topic 3

Belkin mentions that elder care is a great burden on the medical system, and some have suggested that care be rationed to the elderly. How do you feel about this suggestion? Is it a financially practical option for the health care system? Why or why not? Why is it such a controversial idea? What would the benefits and drawbacks of such a system be? Be sure to cite specific examples from the text to support your thesis.

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