Suffering & Autonomy in Palliative Care – Spotlight Series

In this month’s Spotlight, Dr. Bruce “BJ” Miller, MD, President and Counselor for Mettle Health; and Paul Menzel, PhD, Advisor to the Completed Life Initiative, discuss the role that autonomy plays in Palliative care. While Palliative care is primarily focused around the reduction of suffering at the end of life, respecting the autonomous wishes of the patient can be equally as important, while not necessarily being a form of suffering. Some patients have clear and meaningful requests in their advance directives that may have nothing to do with present suffering. Our speakers address this nuanced conversation.