0005 528H Humanities
Terminal Illness and Death

Instructor(s): Ellen Binder, MD Assistant Professor Director, Long Term Care Research Consortium Research Director, Jewish Center for the Aged

Course Summary:

In this seminar we will examine such topics as: 1) psychological, social, and professional responses to terminal illness and death; 2) communicating bad news to patients; 3) grief and bereavement; 4) palliative care and physician-assisted suicide. Teaching sessions will include viewing of videotapes and interviews with practitioners and/or patients, and will rely heavily on student participation.

Teaching Objective:

Session 1
· To understand the cultural context of terminal illness and death in modern American society.
· To understand common responses to terminal illness among medical professionals.
· To understand how personal responses to terminal illness and death can affect medical practice.

Session 2
· To understand the role of the physician in end-of-life communication.
· To understand the principles of conveying bad news.
· To understand common patient-family reactions to learning bad news.
· To understand common mistakes physicians make when conveying bad news.

Session 3
· To understand the impact of a dying child or adult or other family members and relationships.
· To understand the normal grieving process.
· To understand the meaning and importance of spirituality in the grieving process.
· To understand the role of the physician in facilitating the grieving process and in recognizing pathological grief responses.
· To understand the concept of anticipatory grief

Session 4
· To understand the psychological experiences and needs of patients who have a life-threatening illness.
· To understand the role of the physician in addressing psychological issues faced by patients and their families.
· To understand the importance of spirituality for patients who have a life-threatening illness.

Session 5
· To understand the meaning of the term hospice and the cardinal features of the Medicare Hospice benefit.
· To understand the impact of poor symptom management on the patient, the family and society.
· To understand ways to effectively communicate with patients who request physician-assisted suicide.

Course Requirements:
· Attend all class sessions and participate in class discussions.
· Complete a short paper focused on your personal experiences and attitudes about terminal illness and death (bring to 1st class).
· Participate in rounds with a BJC hospice nurse (see below). Write a brief journal entry describing your responses to the hospice visit.
· Complete the required readings and be prepared to discuss in class.
· Complete the course evaluation form.

Students are required to spend a half-day (or part of a day making rounds with a nurse from the BJC Hospice Program. Noelle Wilson (314-953-1783) at the BJC Hospice program will assist you in arranging your hospice visit. The name and pager number of the nurse you are assigned to follow will be made available to you. If you do not have a car please, attempt to pair with another student in the class who has a car.

Class Format:

Discussion

Time:

3:15-4:45pm


Date:

4/14/2010
4/21/2010
4/28/2010
5/05/2010
TBD
hospice visit


Location:

Farrell Learning and Teaching Center Small Group Room to be determined