Ethics consultants help families navigate tough hospital choices

Published: July 27, 2016, 6:34 p.m.

b'Life-and-death decisions were once made exclusively by doctors, but nowadays those matters are largely in the hands of patients. This can create conflict as relatives disagree over how to treat a failing patient, for example, and that\\u2018s where ethics consultants can help. Two such consultants at Upstate University Hospital \\u2013 neonatologist Life-and-death decisions were once made exclusively by doctors, but nowadays those matters are largely in the hands of patients. This can create conflict as relatives disagree over how to treat a failing patient, for example, and that\\u2018s where ethics consultants can help. Two such consultants at Upstate University Hospital \\u2013 neonatologist Thomas Curran, MD Thomas Curran, MD (at right in photo), and attorney (at right in photo), and attorney Robert Olick, JD, PhD (at left), Robert Olick, JD, PhD (at left), who are both bioethics and humanities faculty members at Upstate \\u2013 explain how they try to clarify and resolve the issues and offer non-binding advice. Using a real-life case, they stress the importance of making one\\u2018s end-of-life wishes known, in advance, and choosing a health care proxy who will help carry out those wishes. who are both bioethics and humanities faculty members at Upstate \\u2013 explain how they try to clarify and resolve the issues and offer non-binding advice. Using a real-life case, they stress the importance of making one\\u2018s end-of-life wishes known, in advance, and choosing a health care proxy who will help carry out those wishes.'