End of Life Resources

End of Life Resources

Return to EOL >> Consent and competence

Welcome to the End-of-Life Resources page; a library of information meant to assist physicians, caregivers, and patients find the information they need to better carry out end-of-life care.  Can't find what you're looking for?  Check back in soon becuse we are adding resources daily to continue populating the end-of-life resource categories. 

You may use the categories below to browse topics and resources or use the "Search EOLR" function on the left sidebar. 

# 012 Myths About Advance Directives, 2nd ed Medical College of Wisconsin (EPERC)
Background:  Written advance directives are legal in every stat; laws and forms, however, vary state to state. See Fast...
A Doctor's Blog: Improving Palliative Care in the ED Pallimed Hospice and Palliative Care Blog
This recent blog posting by Dr. Rosielle begins an interesting dialogue on palliative care in the emergency room.  His...
Advance Care Planning: Role of the Primary Care Physician
Assessment of Patients' Competence to Consent to Treatment New England Journal of Medicine
This article from the New England Journal of Medicine presents a case study on the challenging scenario of assessing...
Cunniff-Dixon Letter: Andy Baxter
  This letter is part of the Healthcare Proxy/Living Will package.  To My Health Care Proxy(ies), Anne, Cookie,...
Cunniff-Dixon Letter: Carley Cunniff
  Near the end of her life, Carley Cunniff wrote this letter with the assistance of Dr. Peter Dixon and her health care...
End of Life Website: The Hastings Center
"End of Life" is a chapter taken from the book, "From Birth to Death and Bench to Clinic: The Hastings Center...
Federal Patient Self Determination Act 1990
The Patient Self-Determination Act (PSDA) was passed by the U.S. Congress in 1990 as an amendment to the Omnibus Budget...
Geripal Blog: Advance Care Planning: A Paradigm Shift
What is the purpose of Advance Care Planning? I have been taught to view the goal as helping patients define what they...
Geripal Blog: Length of Stay in Nursing Homes at the End of Life
One out of every four of us will die while residing in a nursing home. For most of us, that stay in a nursing home will be...
GeriPal Blog: Advance directives say “I’m not dead yet”
“Enough. The living will has failed, and it is time to say so.” So said Angela Fagerlin and Carl Schneider in...
Implementing advance care planning: a qualitative study of community nurses' views and experiences BMC Palliative Care
Abstract:  Advance care planning (ACP) is a process of discussion about goals of care and a means of setting on record...
Improving End of Life Care: Why Has It Been So Difficult? The Hastings Center: Special Report
This report contains 10 essays that present a synoptic overview of the most important developments in end-of-life decision...
Tool #1 How to Select Your Health Care Agent or Proxy American Bar Association: Consumer’s Tool Kit for Health Care Advance Planning
When you decide to pick someone to speak for you in a medical crisis, in case you are not able to speak for yourself, there...
Tool #10 PDF: Resources: Advance Planning For Health Care American Bar Association: Consumer’s Tool Kit for Health Care Advance Planning
This is a PDF of some in-depth resources about end-of-life issues and advance medical directive forms.
Tool #2 PDF: Are Some Conditions Worse than Death? American Bar Association: Consumer’s Tool Kit for Health Care Advance Planning
This worksheet helps you to think about situations in which you would not want medical treatments intended to keep you...
Tool #3 PDF: How Do You Weigh Odds of Survival? American Bar Association: Consumer’s Tool Kit for Health Care Advance Planning
People evaluate the pros and cons of medical treatments in very personal ways. This explains why some people may choose a...
Tool #3 PDF: How Do You Weigh Odds of Survival? American Bar Association: Consumer’s Tool Kit for Health Care Advance Planning
People evaluate the pros and cons of medical treatments in very personal ways. This explains why some people may choose a...
Tool #4 PDF: Personal Priorities And Spiritual Values Important To Your Medical Decisions American Bar Association: Consumer’s Tool Kit for Health Care Advance Planning
People have personal priorities and spiritual beliefs that effect their medical decisions. This is especially true at the...
Tool #5 PDF: After Death Decisions To Think About Now American Bar Association: Consumer’s Tool Kit for Health Care Advance Planning
After the death of a loved one, family and friends are often left with some tough decisions. You can help ease the pain and...
Tool #6 PDF: Conversation Scripts: Getting Past The Resistance American Bar Association: Consumer’s Tool Kit for Health Care Advance Planning
Communication is the single most important step in health care planning. Talk about your wishes with the people who may be...
Tool #7 PDF: The Proxy Quiz For Family & Physician American Bar Association: Consumer’s Tool Kit for Health Care Advance Planning
How well does your family, proxy, or doctor know your health care wishes? This short test (open PDF file) can give you some...
Tool #8 PDF: What To Do After Signing Your Health Care Advance Directive American Bar Association: Consumer’s Tool Kit for Health Care Advance Planning
Advance planning for health care is always a work in progress. That’s because circumstances change, and lives change...
Tool #9 PDF: Guide For Health Care Proxies American Bar Association: Consumer’s Tool Kit for Health Care Advance Planning
If you are in a position to make medical decisions for someone else, this guide is for you. If you have been named in...