2012 Spring Program

End-of-Life Ethics

Companion Book Order a box of 20 Order individual copy

Available only on DVD, the program examines, using a case study approach, the ethical issues and dilemmas that emerge at the end-of-life. Ethical decisions at the end of life provide a point where all the factors that influence end-of-life care such as finances, laws, values, culture, and technology converge. The decisions that are made at the end-of-life affect not only the way that the person dies, but also the ways that survivors face the loss. These decisions may influence staff – affecting morale and turnover consequently directly influencing patient care as well as families struggling with grief. This program explores ethical dilemmas that are likely to arise at the end-of-life, the principles of ethical decision-making and the effects of these decisions on staff and families. Case studies will be used to illustrate ethical issues that will be addressed by the program panel.

Registration ($200) includes:

• one full-length DVD (2.5 hours)
• availability to show the program as many times as you wish throughout the year - to your registered site location(s) only.
• a detailed Site Coordinator's Manual
• 35 Program Guides (with a tip & resource sheet included)
• access to a media kit to help you publicize the event in your area
• a discount coupon for the program's companion book, as well as additional useful program materials
• one complimentary copy of the companion book

Register Now!

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Expert Panelists

Moderated by:

• Lynn Sherr, former ABC News 20/20 correspondent
  
  
  
  

with Expert Panelists

• Timothy R. Arsenault, MA, Director of Spiritual Care for Suncoast Hospice
  
  
  
  
• Karen Bullock, PhD, LCSW, Associate Professor at North Carolina State University, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Department of Social Work
  
  
  
• Eileen R. Chichin, PhD, RN, former Co-Director of the Greenberg Center on Ethics and Palliative Care at Jewish Home Lifecare and an adjunct assistant professor at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine at Long Island University
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• Kenneth J. Doka, PhD, MDiv, Professor of Gerontology at the Graduate School of the College of New Rochelle
  
  
  
• Bruce Jennings, MA, Director of Bioethics at the Center for Humans and Nature, Lecturer at the Yale School of Public Health, Lecturer at the Weill Medical School-Cornell University, and a Senior Consultant at The Hastings Center
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• Neal E. Slatkin, MD, DABPM, is Vice President of Medical Services and Chief Medical Officer at Hospice of the Valley, San Jose, California and Director of Palliative Care at El Camino Hospital, Mountain View, California.
  
  
  
  

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Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this program, participants will be able to:

1. Describe the process of ethical decision-making;
2. Discuss five principles of bio-medical ethics;
3. Describe end-of-life ethical dilemmas, such as disclosure and communication, surrogate decision-making, artificial nutrition and hydration, and palliative sedation;
4. Describe complicating factors when patients are children and adolescents;
5. Discuss the ways that cultural values and beliefs may influence ethical decisions at the end of life;
6. Describe the ways that ethical issues at the end of life can create moral distress and influence the grief reactions of families and hospice and palliative staff and volunteers.

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Agenda

The 2½ hour presentation will be distributed via DVD beginning April 19, 2012. You may choose your own intermission; it is recommended that you take one break about half-way through the program. Your 30-minute local discussion (required for full CE’s) should follow the presentation. You may show the program at any time on April 19 or after. When publicizing the event, make sure that the advertised time includes the local discussion and registration time. A detailed agenda will be included in the program guide. Each site will receive one packet of 35 programs guides with their registration. Additional copies may be ordered on the registration site.

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Segment Highlights

The full segment highlights will be available to sites once they are successfully registered, and segment highlights will be printed in the program guides – viewable for all participants. Segment summaries will be as outlined below:

Segment I: Why Should We Look at Ethics in End-of-life Care?
Segment II: How Do We Decide Ethical Issues?
Segment III: Who Decides Ethical Dilemmas?
Segment IV: What Should Be Decided?

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Target Audience

Clergy, counselors, nurses, nursing home administrators, social workers, case managers, psychologists, physicians, funeral directors, marriage and family therapists, caregivers, and those working with death, dying, grief or bereavement.  Program is useful for all levels of education – entry level, intermediate or advanced.

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Continuing Education

End-of-Life Ethics is available for 3 credits of continuing education. For the full list of board approvals, please see the list of Anticipated Board Approvals on HFA’s website, located at www.hospicefoundation.org. CE credits are available to participants online or via mail.  There is a $30 online processing fee per certificate, per participant, until May 3, 2012. The cost after this date is $35 per participant (online only, up until April 19, 2013). CE’s via mail are $40 per participant (available until May 3, 2012).

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Participant Fees

HFA does not charge a participant registration fee, however some sites may charge a small fee to cover costs associated with room rental, equipment, or food & beverages offered. There is a small cost if participants wish to receive continuing education credits. Please see the ‘Continuing Education’ section above for further details.

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Special Accommodations for Disability (ADA)

This is based on individual site location(s). Site coordinators please post all ADA instructions when advertising the program.

For Questions, Comments, or Addressing Grievances:

Please contact Hospice Foundation of America
educate@hospicefoundation.org
address/phone/fax

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Looking for resources from a past HFA Teleconference? Visit the Professional Resources section.

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