Partner Donald Freedman participates in medical ethics forum
[October 16, 2008]
Donald N. Freedman

Partner Donald Freedman participated recently in an Ethics Forum held at Evercare, a unit of UnitedHealthcare Group that offers Medicare Advantage programs to seniors. The title of the forum was "Challenges in Working with Surrogate Decisionmakers and Guardians." Among the questions discussed were these. What happens when the family or surrogate disagrees with the treatment team on end-of-life care? What standards apply to decision-making on behalf of persons who have never been able to make or communicate preferences on treatment? About fifteen staff attended, predominately nurse practitioners and physician assistants, but also nurses and medical directors. The forum was chaired by Dr. Michael D. Cantor, a geriatrician and attorney who has experience in telehealth, home care, and developing clinical programs for older adults.

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