Center for Bioethics gets grant to study care of terminally ill

The Center of Bioethics at the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center received $75,000 in grants over the summer to support an in-depth examination of clinical care offered to patients as they near death. Bioethics Center Director Arthur Caplan and Lois Snyder of the American College of Physicians launched the project, known as "Finding Common Ground", in July as they convened a panel of physicians, nurses, religious leaders and lawyers. The participants in the one-year initiative -- funded by grants from the Walter B. Hass Family Foundation and the Gerbode Foundation -- will review and revise existing medical and ethical policies on death and dying. The project will culminate with a national conference sponsored by the Center for Bioethics where the panel members will present their findings and recommendations. Additionally, they will assist in the design and implementation of projects intended to improve the dissemination of knowledge among physicians about end-of-life care, to better explain different treatment options to patients and to enhance overall communication with patients and their families. Snyder said the project sets a precedent in health care, especially in light of the tremendous interest demonstrated by the courts, legislators and the public in matters pertaining to death and dying. "The panel has the serious responsibility of developing both clinical and policy recommendations for end-of-life care in the 21st century," he said. "Patients and their families need to feel confident that the physicians will provide sensitive, consistent, quality care throughout their lives, especially as death approaches." Caplan emphasized the urgent need to discuss the issues surrounding death and dying. "There is tremendous interest in the decision by the Supreme Court to permit individual states to uphold their ban on physician-assisted suicide," he said, adding that ongoing end-of-life activities in state legislatures and continuing reports of practices to hasten the deaths of terminally ill patients at their request has also sparked interest. Caplan said that "while a ruling has now been made declaring state bans constitutional, it is still imperative that the health professions and society understand exactly what is at stake should physician-assisted suicide be decriminalized or legalized in the future." The Hass Family Foundation was established in 1952 to support charitable and cultural programs. The Gerbode Foundation funds programs which have the potential to impact population, reproductive rights and citizen participation.