GRAND ROUNDS IN BIOMEDICAL ETHICS - James Hallenbeck, M.D.: Access To Care At The End-Of-Life: The Limits Of Autonomy

Historically, the quest for good care at the end-of-life has revolved around efforts to honor patient autonomy and choice. However, recent studies have suggested little correlation between patient preferences for where people wish to die and where they in fact die and minimal impact of advance directives on care received at the end-of-life. In this presentation, Dr. Hallenbeck will discuss the relationship between choice and access to end-of-life care.

James Hallenbeck, M.D., assistant professor of medicine, is the director of Palliative Care Services at the Palo Alto Veterans Affairs Health Care System where he specializes in include physician education, non-pain symptom management and cultural aspects of end-of-life care with a focus on intercultural communication. Hallenbeck is author of Palliative Care Perspectives.