The End of Life Option Act: Legal and Clinical Implications

Understand the basics of the End of Life Option Act at this event, where speakers dispel some common myths about the act's implementation, address the status of institutional policy development around California and discuss research data from the Oregon/Washington experience. These policy leaders also address some of the challenges encountered by health and mental health professionals in communicating with patients and their families. They share effective techniques for responding to questions about end-of-life care and the End of Life Option Act.

Presenters

Sarah Hooper, J.D., is the executive director of the UCSF/UC Hastings Consortium on Law, Science & Health Policy and adjunct professor of Law at UC Hastings College of the Law. Hooper's research and teaching focuses on legal issues in aging and dementia care, including health-care decision making and informed consent, capacity, elder financial abuse, the link between health and access to civil justice, and models of inter-professional care.

Lael Duncan, M.D., is the medical director of consulting services for the Coalition for Compassionate Care of California, a statewide collaborative effort dedicated to promoting high-quality, compassionate care for everyone who is seriously ill or nearing the end of life. She is an expert educator on Physician Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment (POLST), end-of-life communication between patients and providers, legislation that affects end-of-life care in California and advance care planning.