Douglas B. White, MD, MAS, Vice Chair & Professor of Critical Care Medicine

University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

Dr White will present on the ethical and practical challenges that arise in the context of surrogate decision making for acutely ill, incapacitated patients.  This presentation will explore 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 will summarize recent and ongoing trials of interventions grounded in a broader conceptualization of what surrogates need to accomplish the ethical goals of surrogate decision making.