End-of-Life Care Series (3 Modules)
End-of-Life Module 1: Ethics and end of life
End-of-life care is fraught with ethical challenges for patients, families, and physicians. Physicians who care for patients at the end of life need to be familiar with the ethical frameworks commonly used to work through these challenges.
In this module, we describe the principle-based approach to medical ethics as well as the complementary frameworks. We also explain core ethical concepts specific to decision-making at the end of life and highlight special considerations in the care of patients from marginalized groups.
Learning Objectives
- Recognize how an inadequate understanding of the patient and family experience may cause physicians to miss important ethical obligations.
- Apply the four principles of biomedical ethics most commonly used to identify ethical obligations and help resolve ethical dilemmas in health care.
- Identify limitations of the principle-based approach to medical ethics and recognize situations in which principles alone miss some ethical obligations.
- Apply complementary methods of ethical analysis, including narrative-based, case-based, and virtue-based ethics.
- Develop strategies to empower patients and families from marginalized groups to actively participate in end of life decision-making.
Faculty
Jolion McGreevy, M.D., M.B.E., M.P.H.
Department of Emergency Medicine Boston Medical Center
Winnie Suen, M.D.
Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatrics
Boston Medical Center Michael A. Grodin, M.D.
Department of Health Law, Bioethics & Human Rights, Boston University School of Public Health
Departments of Psychiatry and Family Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine
Course Fees
- MMS Member Physicians: $12
- Nonmember Physicians: $22
- Allied Health Professionals: $9.60
Format: Text & Graphics
CME Credit: 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™, risk management study
This activity meets the criteria of the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine for risk management credit, including 1.0 credit in end-of-life care.
End-of-Life Module 2: Communication and conflict
Physicians can improve end-of-life care by ensuring that communication with patients and their families is a top priority. Poor communication among physicians, patients, and families unfortunately is common and can lead to discord and dissatisfaction with care at the end-of-life.
When conflict arises over end-of-life care, physicians with a working knowledge of ethics and skill in facilitating difficult conversations can help everyone involved in the patient's care reach consensus. In this module, we describe strategies and techniques for developing effective communication skills about the end of life that can be used in practice.
Learning Objectives
- Identify common barriers to communication among the patient, family, and medical team about end-of-life care and develop strategies to overcome them.
- Develop a process-based approach to helping the patient and family work through ethical dilemmas at the end of life.
- Develop a strategy for resolving a common conflict in end-of-life care: disagreement between the family and medical team about life-sustaining treatment for an incapacitated patient.
Faculty
Jolion McGreevy, M.D., M.B.E., M.P.H.
Department of Emergency Medicine Boston Medical Center
Winnie Suen, M.D.
Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatrics
Boston Medical Center Michael A. Grodin, M.D.
Department of Health Law, Bioethics & Human Rights, Boston University School of Public Health
Departments of Psychiatry and Family Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine
Course Fees
- MMS Member Physicians: $12
- Nonmember Physicians: $22
- Allied Health Professionals: $9.60
Format: Text & Graphics
CME Credit: 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™, risk management study
This activity meets the criteria of the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine for risk management credit, including 1.0 credit in end-of-life care.
End-of-Life Module 3: Advance Care Planning
Advance care planning is important for all patients. Physicians have an ethical obligation to help patients consider their wishes about care at the end of life, including which life-sustaining treatments they are likely to want if they become severely ill and unable to speak for themselves.
In this module, we describe advance directives in detail and explore case-based scenarios involving the decision-making process at the end-of-life.
Learning Objectives
- Explain the components of advance care planning.
- Integrate advance care planning discussions for all patients into usual care.
- Explain the options for surrogate decision-making for those without decision-making capacity.
Faculty
Jolion McGreevy, M.D., M.B.E., M.P.H.
Department of Emergency Medicine Boston Medical Center
Winnie Suen, M.D.
Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatrics
Boston Medical Center Michael A. Grodin, M.D.
Department of Health Law, Bioethics & Human Rights, Boston University School of Public Health
Departments of Psychiatry and Family Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine
Course Fees
- MMS Member Physicians: $12
- Nonmember Physicians: $22
- Allied Health Professionals: $9.60
Format: Text & Graphics
CME Credit: 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™, risk management study
This activity meets the criteria of the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine for risk management credit, including 1.0 credit in end-of-life care.
