Chaplains as Partners in Medical Decision-Making

Foreword - <i>George Fitchett, Rush University, USA; </i>Introduction - <i>M. Jeanne Wirpsa and Karen Pugliese, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago</i>; PART I - STORY MATTERS: PATIENT AS PERSON <i>Karen Pugliese;</i> 1. 'It was an easy choice. I'm not ready to die.' -- Keith, a 59-year-old living with Stage IV bladder cancer, <i>Paul Galchutt, University of Minnesota Health Fairview, USA;</i> 2.'Glen's Mission' - a 72-year-old man, living until his sense of purpose was fulfilled, <i>Jim Hogg, Memorial Hermann Hospital -Texas, USA;</i> 3. 'I don't want to put them through anything more. They've already done enough for me' - Bob, a middle-aged husband and father as he faces treatment decisions for his second life-threatening cancer, <i>M. Jeanne Wirpsa;</i> 4. Critical Response to Story Matters: Patient as Person Case Studies,A Chaplain's Perspective, <i>Anne Windholz, AMITA Health Alexian Brothers Medical Center, USA; </i>5. Critical Response to Story Matters: Patient as Person Case Studies, A Palliative Care Physician's Perspective, <i>Nora Segar, Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, USA; </i>PART II - EMOTIONS AND FAMILY DYNAMICS THAT IMPACT MEDICAL DECISION-MAKING,<b> </b><i>Karen Pugliese and M. Jeanne Wirpsa;</i> 6. 'She has fed all of us. How can we not feed her?' - Ray, the grandson of family matriarch, Rita, <i>Keith W. Goheen, Beebe Healthcare, USA;</i> 7. 'Take this trach out; I don't want to live this way'- Mark, a middle-aged man with acute respiratory disease, <i>Melanie Swofford, Cape Fear Valley Health System, USA;</i> 8. 'I don't want to give up on him, but I don't want to hurt him either.' - Aaron's family as they struggle<i> </i>to do right by this 45-year-old who suffered a sudden life-threatening injury, <i>Teresamarie T. Vilagos, Carolinas Rehabilitation, USA; </i>9. Critical Response to Emotions and Family Dynamics Case Studies, A Chaplain's Perspective, <i>Linda F. Piotrowski, National Association of Catholic Chaplains, USA; </i>10. Critical Response to Emotions and Family Dynamics Case Studies, A Psychologist's Perspective, <i>Debjani Mukherjee</i>, <i>Northwestern University, USA; </i>PART III - NEGOTIATING RELIGIOUS AND CULTURAL DIFFERENCES, <i>M. Jeanne Wirpsa;</i> 11. 'If G-d feels Sara should experience a recovery, it will be a great gift. However, if G-d doesn't, my belief system will never change.' - Leah, an Orthodox Jew, speaking about G-d's role in her daughter's devastating illness, <i>Abraham Axelrud, The Wagner School of New York University, USA; </i>12. 'She's dying from a broken heart' - Mary telling the story of her sister Alma's death, <i>Michelle Kirby, VA San Diego Healthcare System and Naval Medical Center, USA;</i> 13. 'Allah Will Decide' - Ayesah, a 50-year-old Palestinian Muslim woman dying in the ICU, <i>Emily Rosencrans, Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital, USA;</i> 14. Critical Response to Religious and Cultural Differences Case Studies, A Chaplain's Perspective, <i>Karen Lieberman; </i>15. Critical Response to Religious and Cultural Differences Case Studies, A Family Medicine Physician's Response,<i>Christopher Smyre, Northwestern McGaw Family Medicine Residency, USA; </i>Afterword, <i>Martin Walton, Protestant Theological University, The Netherlands </i>