DESCRIPTION
One of the most confusing and complex areas of contemporary health care concerns decision-making at the end of life. In particular, decisions to withhold or withdraw life support are complex, and highly regulated within the state of Illinois. This conference will examine these issues, and offer practical guidelines for decisions to withhold or withdraw life support. Among the issues to be addressed are:
The legal "landscape" for withholding and withdrawing life support.
How advance directives might (and might not) authorize withdrawal of life support.
The conditions under which life support might be withdrawn absent an advance directive.
How to apply the Illinois Health Care Surrogate Act.
What withdrawal of life support means for other medical interventions, and goals of treatment.
What happens when a DNR patient undergoes an elective surgery.
Palliative care strategies for patients who refuse life support.

TARGET AUDIENCE
All medical professions, physicians, nurses, social workers, patient representatives, clergy, and ethics committee members.

PRESENTATIONS/SPEAKERS
"Palliative Care and the End-of-Life." - Mary Bretscher, M.D.
Physician - Springfield Clinic - Department of Hematology/Oncology, Springfield IL; Clinical Assistant Professor - Department of Medicine, Southern Illinois University, School of Medicine, Springfield, IL.; and Chairperson - Central Illinois Community Palliative Care Initiative.

"The Illinois Health Care Surrogate Act and Difficulties in Applicability." - Jana Craig, M.A., Ph.D.(c)
Clinical Ethicist - Clinical Ethics Center, Memorial Medical Center, Springfield, IL; and Adjunct Assistant Professor - Department of Medical Humanities, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, IL.

"DNR for Patients Undergoing Procedures." - Don Helfer, M.D.
Associated Anesthesiologists of Springfield and Member, Human Values and Ethics Committee, Memorial Medical Center, Springfield, IL.

"How Advance Directives Might (and Might Not) Authorize Withholding or Withdrawing Life Support." - Thomas May, Ph.D.
Director, Clinical Ethics Center, Memorial Medical Center and Southern Illinois University, School of Medicine, Sprinfield, Illinois.

"The Legal Landscape for Decisions to Withhold or Withdraw Life Support." - Bethany Spielman, Ph.D., J.D., M.H.A.
Assistant Professor - Department of Medical Humanities, Southern Illinois University, School of Medicine, Springfield, IL.; and Ethicist - Clinical Ethics center, Memorial Medical Center, Springfield, IL.

"Establishing Goals of Treatment after Decisions to Withhold or Withdraw Life Support." - Andrew Varney, M.D.
Assistant Professor of Medicine and Medical Humanities; Director, Residency Program, Southern Illinois University, School of Medicine; and Chairman, Human Values and Ethics Committee, Memorial Medical Center, Springfield, IL.