End-of-Life Ethics

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Panelists | Learning objectives |  Segment summaries |  Companion Book | Self-Study | 

This 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.

Donate to HFAExpert Panelists

Moderated by:

  • sherrLynn Sherr, former ABC News 20/20 correspondent



with Expert Panelists

  • arsenaultTimothy R. Arsenault, MA, Director of Spiritual Care for Suncoast Hospice



  • bullockKaren Bullock, PhD, LCSW, Associate Professor at North Carolina State University, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Department of Social Work


  • chichinEileen 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
  •  
  • dokaKenneth J. Doka, PhD, MDiv, Professor of Gerontology at the Graduate School of the College of New Rochelle


  • jenningsBruce 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
  •  
  • slatkinNeal 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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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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