Seminar Series: Ethical and Practical Challenges with Surrogate Decision Making with Dr. Doug White

In the annual Hutzler-Rives Memorial Lecture, Dr. Douglas White presented on the ethical and practical challenges that arise in the context of surrogate decision making for acutely ill, incapacitated patients. This presentation explored the nature of the "work" that surrogates must do in this context and the failure of interventions focused narrowly on improving information sharing about prognosis, values, and treatment options. Dr. White summarized recent and ongoing trials of interventions grounded in a broader conceptualization of what surrogates need to accomplish the ethical goals of surrogate decision making.