That is what happened In the Matter of Rachel Z in New York. Jack Z. convinced the court to fire his sister Anna B because she was not acting in their mother's best interests.
Friday, July 17, 2020
Court Revokes Health Care Agent's Powers
Health care agents must act consistent with the incapacitated patient's known wishes. If those are unknown, they must act within the patient's best interests. When they materially deviate from these duties, agents (like other types of surrogates) can and should be replaced.
That is what happened In the Matter of Rachel Z in New York. Jack Z. convinced the court to fire his sister Anna B because she was not acting in their mother's best interests.
That is what happened In the Matter of Rachel Z in New York. Jack Z. convinced the court to fire his sister Anna B because she was not acting in their mother's best interests.
Thursday, July 16, 2020
American Clinicians Academy on Medical Aid in Dying - Videos
The American Clinicians Academy on Medical Aid in Dying has completed the accreditation process for CME and CE credits for online learning, for physicians, nurses, and social workers.
If you were unable to attend the National Clinicians Conference on Medical Aid in Dying (UC Berkeley, February 14/15, 2020), the sessions from the conference are now available as online videos.
As well, the Academy's recent (and ongoing) Video Interview series is available for CME/CE credits on the same CME/CE page.
If you were unable to attend the National Clinicians Conference on Medical Aid in Dying (UC Berkeley, February 14/15, 2020), the sessions from the conference are now available as online videos.
As well, the Academy's recent (and ongoing) Video Interview series is available for CME/CE credits on the same CME/CE page.
Wednesday, July 15, 2020
Michigan Physician Agrees to Treat Tinslee Lewis Despite Repeated Determinations Treatment Is Non-Beneficial and Inappropriate
Last year, Clinicians at Cook Children's Hospital determined that continued life-sustaining treatment for Tinslee Lewis offered no benefit and would be "cruel" and "unethical." Accordingly, they planned to stop that treatment even over her mother's objections.
With the help of Texas Right to Life, Tinslee's mother sought to enjoin the hospital. But the Tarrant County District Court ruled against her. The Second Court of Appeals stayed the order pending the outcome of the mother's appeal.
But now a physician from Michigan, Glenn E. Green, says (and here) that Tinslee's condition is treatable. He has offered to come to Texas to perform a tracheostomy, so that Tinslee can be transferred. Dissatisfied with the conditions and constraints from Cook, Tinslee's mother has filed a new action directed at enabling Tinslee's transfer.
With the help of Texas Right to Life, Tinslee's mother sought to enjoin the hospital. But the Tarrant County District Court ruled against her. The Second Court of Appeals stayed the order pending the outcome of the mother's appeal.
But now a physician from Michigan, Glenn E. Green, says (and here) that Tinslee's condition is treatable. He has offered to come to Texas to perform a tracheostomy, so that Tinslee can be transferred. Dissatisfied with the conditions and constraints from Cook, Tinslee's mother has filed a new action directed at enabling Tinslee's transfer.
Tuesday, July 14, 2020
New Horizon in Palliative Care: Psilocybin Therapy for Relief of Anxiety and Depression
This event "New Horizon in Palliative Care: Psilocybin Therapy for Relief of Anxiety and Depression" will stream on July 22, 2020. See also here.
Daughter Convicted of Attempted Murder Says Mom Wanted Me to Do It
Kimberly Hopkins pleaded guilty to zip-tying her 80-year-old mother's hands and trying to put a plastic bag with helium over her head. In October 2019, she was convicted of attempted first-degree murder.
But in a recent Tennessee parole hearing, Hopkins claims that her mother asked her to to do it. "I would never have done anything that I did without my mother’s permission."
Hopkins apparently used the book FINAL EXIT to make the planned death look like a suicide. But what Hopkins did is very different from the inert gas bag method used by the Final Exit Network. Their exit guides do not handle the inert gas or the hood. And they certainly do not tie up the individual.
But in a recent Tennessee parole hearing, Hopkins claims that her mother asked her to to do it. "I would never have done anything that I did without my mother’s permission."
Hopkins apparently used the book FINAL EXIT to make the planned death look like a suicide. But what Hopkins did is very different from the inert gas bag method used by the Final Exit Network. Their exit guides do not handle the inert gas or the hood. And they certainly do not tie up the individual.
Monday, July 13, 2020
Life Kit: Planning For The End of a Life
Talking about death makes many of us uncomfortable, so we don't plan for it. NPR's Life Kit offers tips for starting an advanced directive to prepare for a good death. After all, we wear a seatbelt even though we do not expect to be in a car accident.
Sunday, July 12, 2020
Veterans Affairs OIG Issues Caution on Goals of Care Compliance
The Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General just released an inspection report of the Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center in Iron Mountain, Michigan. Care coordination concerning life-sustaining treatment decisions was one of the four focus areas.
VHA requires practitioners to initiate goals of care conversations with high-risk patients—including hospice patients or their surrogates—within a time frame that meets the medical needs of the patient or at the time of a triggering event. The GOC conversations are discussion between a healthcare provider and a patient or surrogate to help define the patient’s values, goals, and preferences for care and, based on the discussion, make choices about starting, limiting, or ceasing LSTs.
The OIG found that the medical center generally complied. But it expressed concern that a new VHA requirement could mislead practitioners to only address those goals of care conversation elements that are required to be documented in the LST progress note.
VHA requires practitioners to initiate goals of care conversations with high-risk patients—including hospice patients or their surrogates—within a time frame that meets the medical needs of the patient or at the time of a triggering event. The GOC conversations are discussion between a healthcare provider and a patient or surrogate to help define the patient’s values, goals, and preferences for care and, based on the discussion, make choices about starting, limiting, or ceasing LSTs.
The OIG found that the medical center generally complied. But it expressed concern that a new VHA requirement could mislead practitioners to only address those goals of care conversation elements that are required to be documented in the LST progress note.
