MARTINSBURG, W.Va. – When facing a severe illness or hospitalization and asked about treatment options, many will respond “do everything possible”. What does that mean to the patient, family, physician and the nursing staff?
On Thursday, September 22, at 6:30 pm, West Virginia University Hospitals-East will present a community seminar on medical ethics titled The Ethics of Do Everything Possible (Hoping for a Miracle). The seminar will be held in the auditorium of the WVU Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center on the City Hospital campus.
The presentation format will be a panel discussion featuring various community experts in the field of medical ethics. With participation from the audience, the panel will talk about the importance of balancing the possibility of a good outcome of treatment without any physical, emotional or financial harm to the patient or family members.
Panel members will include Donald Patthoff, DDS, chairman of City Hospital’s Ethics Committee; Russell Porter, PhD, EdD, G.W. Ethics Scholar and professor at Shepherd University; Andrea Allen, MD, medical director at Hospice of the Panhandle; Reverend Robert Hill, Jr, chaplain liaison at City Hospital; Jessica Smith, BSW, social worker at City Hospital; and Marilys Gilbert, RN, JD, director of risk management at WVUH-East.
In addition to the seminar, free assistance with advanced directives will be offered from 6 – 6:30 pm and 8 – 8:30 pm. For more information, phone 304.264.1293.