Center to Advance Palliative Care

Terry,

I too would like to commend you for your thoughtful intention for this patient and his situation. This very subject appears to be one of the top ethical concerns at all levels of health care facilities across the nation.

First, I would ask if you have an ethics committee who might assist you. Second, have you checked with your legal department to understand the state laws. In our state there are no options other than getting a court appointed p.o. The fact that a p.o is established in this situation and may not be acting in the best intrests of the patients may provide an avenue for further discussion. An ethics consult with him may be more successful than phone or email discussions.