What is Next Generation?
Next Generation is a major component of DDNC's public education efforts and is designed to build a national network of physicians and medical students in order to close the end-of-life education gap. This is primarily achieved through a series a medical school forums throughout the United States. Presenters at these events are esteemed medical and end-of-life specialists who provide important insights and invite critical thinking among forum participants. Click here to receive Next Generation newsletter and updates.

Read the Spring 2006 Newsletter

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Palliative Care

Understanding Quality of Care Well Enough to Treat Symptoms, Relieve Suffering and Facilitate Good Dying

University of Washington
South Campus Center Room 246 - Seattle
Tuesday, May 2, 2006
Noon - 1:00 p.m.

Students and Faculty Encouraged to Participate
Lunch will be Provided

Robert A. Pearlman, MD, MPH, will describe the elements of patient quality of life and how these change with time and illness, characterize how health care providers often fail to understand the patient’s perspective, and provide examples of how these misperceptions influence provider behavior. The presentation will focus on advance care planning, relief of suffering, and the motivation for foregoing life-sustaining treatment and physician-assisted dying.  These topics will be explored to demonstrate the importance of quality of life near the end of life. In addition, the social and cultural contexts for these decisions and choices in the United States will be addressed.

Robert A. Pearlman, MD, MPH, is University of Washington Professor of Medicine, Health Services and Medical History and Ethics. Dr. Pearlman is a noted author and expert researcher in clinical ethics and end-of-life care. His research has explored euthanasia, the role of quality of life in decision-making, the validity of life-sustaining treatment preferences, medical futility, advance care planning, physician-assisted suicide, and relief of patient suffering. He is the author of two books and more than 100 publications in medical journals and book chapters; and his most recent book, Your Life, Your Choices, is an interactive workbook that helps patients and loved ones with advance care planning. Dr. Pearlman has mentored countless junior faculty throughout the United States in the technique of combining empirical research methods and ethics.

Students and faculty interested in emerging developments in palliative and end-of-life care for terminally-ill patients are encouraged toattend this important presentation and Q&A session.

For more information about Next Generation, contact us by e-mail, or call 503-228-4415.

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