FRIDAY, JUNE 6, 2025
8:45 AM - 12:15 PM
8:45 am Welcome and Introductions
8:50 am Understanding the Theory and Practice of Clinical Bioethics: The Dax Cowart Legacy (Amy VanDyke, MSW, LSW, PhD)
Abstract: After nearly 50 years, the story of Dax Cowart still engages those interested in bioethics. While Mr. Cowart died of cancer on April 28, 2019, at the age of 71, his personal story is one upon which several commonly accepted modern ethical principles and practices have been built. Dax inadvertently became a champion of autonomy who unsuccessfully refused treatment after suffering severe burns over most of his body in the 1970s. While the doctrine of informed consent was already fairly well established, the concepts of informed refusal, decision-making capacity, and surrogate decision-making were lacking. This session will review this seminal case by:
- Exploring the case, which was pivotal to the emerging field of bioethics in its early years;
- Analyzing the theoretical frameworks that predate the Dax case, along with how those frameworks have evolved in current medical and bioethics practice; and
- Discussion of how ethical frameworks are anticipated to continue to evolve with current changes in the health care system, along with discussion of how currently accepted frameworks might continue to be challenged.
Participants will be challenged to honor the early and still relevant principles and frameworks upon which bioethics was founded.
9:55 am Ethical Issues in Surrogate Decision Making (Aimee Zellers, PhD)
Abstract: When patients lose the capacity to make healthcare decisions, the ethical burden shifts to surrogate decision makers—individuals who must navigate medical uncertainty, legal constraints, and complex family dynamics while honoring the patient’s values and preferences. This session explores the ethical, legal, and cultural dimensions of surrogate decision making through landmark cases, decision-making standards, and the foundational principles of biomedical ethics: autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice. Participants will examine decision-making hierarchies, advance care planning tools, and shared decision-making strategies. The session includes practical tools for clinicians and surrogates, a focus on cultural and religious influences, and a breakout case study session to engage with real-world ethical tensions. Designed for healthcare providers, ethics consultants, and trainees, this talk provides both conceptual frameworks and practical guidance for ethically sound surrogate decision making.
11:00 am Keep Calm and Ask About the Advance Directive (Claire Horner, MA, JD)
Abstract: Everyone dies, but despite knowing this in advance, only about one third of Americans have completed an Advance Directive that tells their loved ones and doctors how they would want to be treated when that time comes. In this talk, we will explore the different types of advance directives in Pennsylvania and how they apply in the clinical setting. We will use case studies to explore both the ethical and legal strengths and weaknesses of these documents, both in cases where there is no directive, and where the directive is not helpful for the medical decision. Finally, we will develop take-away recommendations for engaging patients in discussions about their end of life wishes in a way that ensures they complete the right documentation and that they can memorialize their preferences before it is too late.
12:00 pm Wrap up and Adjournment