Freedom of Choice at the End of Life

This panel discussed the issues of concern for people with disabilities and the conflict between organizations dedicated to protecting their rights and end-of-life advocates. The panel discussed the views of some of the major religion and whether conservative theological values can co-exist with patient choice. Finally, the panel concluded with a discussion of the quality of medical care provided to prisoners and how their end of life choices are treated. Attendees at this panel were eligible for 2 CLE credit in professional practice. ■Moderator: Sue D. Porter, Compassion and Choices ■Alicia Ouellette, Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Professor of Law, Albany Law School; Professor of Bioethics at Union Graduate College/Mt. Sinai School of Medicine Program in Bioethics ■Rev. Dr. Martha R. Jacobs, BCC, Adjunct Professor, New York Theological Seminary; Chaplain, New York Presbyterian Hospital – Columbia Campus; Author, A Clergy Guide to End of Life Issues; Blogger: Huffington Post ■Ann Neumann, Editor, The Revealer, The Center for Religion and Media, New York University ■Honorable Brian Fischer, Commissioner, New York State Department of Corrections ■Carl J. Koenigsman, M.D., Deputy Commissioner and Chief Medical Officer, New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision

This panel explored best practices in End of Life Care: palliative care, pain management, the “double effect”, hospice and transitional care. In addition, the panel discussed the conflict between family and physician over medically ineffective treatment (“futility”) and the ethics of decision making for persons with dementia. Attendees at this panel were eligible for 2 CLE credits in professional practice. ■Moderator: Carlin Meyer, Director, the Diane Abbey Law Center for Children and Families, Professor, New York Law School ■David Muller, M.D., Professor of Medicine and Dean for Medical Education, Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, New York; Director, Visiting Doctors Program ■Gabrielle Goldberg, M.D., Assistant Professor, Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine, Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, New York; Education Director, Hertzberg Palliative Care Institute ■Thaddeus M. Pope, JD, Ph.D., Director, Health Law Institute at Hamline University, Adjunct Associate Professor, Albany Medical College ■Bonnie Steinbock, Ph.D., Professor of Philosophy, University at Albany/SUNY ■Paul T. Menzel, Professor of Philosophy Emeritus, Pacific Lutheran University

This panel discussed the need for advance planning and one’s rights to do so, available advance directive tools: health care proxies, living wills, POLST (MOLST); enforcement of patient rights and emerging issues, trends and new legislation. Attendees at this panel were eligible for 1 CLE credit in professional practice. ■Moderator: Peter J. Strauss, Symposium Chair, Adjunct Professor, New York Law School ■Nadia N. Sawicki, Assistant Professor, Beazley Institute for Health Law & Policy, Loyola University Chicago School of Law ■Lisa Comeau, Attorney, Law Office of Lisa M. Comeau ■David C. Leven, Executive Director, Compassion and Choices of New York ■Mary Beth Morrissey, Esq., Ph.D., M.P.H.; President, Collaborative for Palliative Care, Westchester/NYS Southern Region

Sherrie Dulworth, R.N., Healthcare Management Consultant and Freelance Reporter

Peter J. Strauss, Symposium Chair, Adjunct Professor, New York Law School Kathryn L. Tucker, JD, Director of Legal Affairs, Compassion & Choices, Adjunct Professor of Law, Loyola Law School/Los Angeles

Introduction: Peter J. Strauss, Symposium Chair, Adjunct Professor, New York Law School Honorable Sol Wachtler, former Chief Judge, New York State Court of Appeals