Chaplains as Partners in Medical Decision-Making

M. Jeanne Wirpsa, MA, BCC, HEC-C is a Program Manager & Clinical Ethicist in the Medical Ethics Program and a Chaplain at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, IL. Karen Pugliese, MA, BCC-PCHAC is an Advanced Practice Chaplain at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield, IL.

Foreword - George Fitchett, Rush University, USA; Introduction - M. Jeanne Wirpsa and Karen Pugliese, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago; PART I - STORY MATTERS: PATIENT AS PERSON Karen Pugliese; 1. 'It was an easy choice. I'm not ready to die.' -- Keith, a 59-year-old living with Stage IV bladder cancer, Paul Galchutt, University of Minnesota Health Fairview, USA; 2.'Glen's Mission' - a 72-year-old man, living until his sense of purpose was fulfilled, Jim Hogg, Memorial Hermann Hospital -Texas, USA; 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, M. Jeanne Wirpsa; 4. Critical Response to Story Matters: Patient as Person Case Studies,A Chaplain's Perspective, Anne Windholz, AMITA Health Alexian Brothers Medical Center, USA; 5. Critical Response to Story Matters: Patient as Person Case Studies, A Palliative Care Physician's Perspective, Nora Segar, Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, USA; PART II - EMOTIONS AND FAMILY DYNAMICS THAT IMPACT MEDICAL DECISION-MAKING, Karen Pugliese and M. Jeanne Wirpsa; 6. 'She has fed all of us. How can we not feed her?' - Ray, the grandson of family matriarch, Rita, Keith W. Goheen, Beebe Healthcare, USA; 7. 'Take this trach out; I don't want to live this way'- Mark, a middle-aged man with acute respiratory disease, Melanie Swofford, Cape Fear Valley Health System, USA; 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 to do right by this 45-year-old who suffered a sudden life-threatening injury, Teresamarie T. Vilagos, Carolinas Rehabilitation, USA; 9. Critical Response to Emotions and Family Dynamics Case Studies, A Chaplain's Perspective, Linda F. Piotrowski, National Association of Catholic Chaplains, USA; 10. Critical Response to Emotions and Family Dynamics Case Studies, A Psychologist's Perspective, Debjani Mukherjee, Northwestern University, USA; PART III - NEGOTIATING RELIGIOUS AND CULTURAL DIFFERENCES, M. Jeanne Wirpsa; 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, Abraham Axelrud, The Wagner School of New York University, USA; 12. 'She's dying from a broken heart' - Mary telling the story of her sister Alma's death, Michelle Kirby, VA San Diego Healthcare System and Naval Medical Center, USA; 13. 'Allah Will Decide' - Ayesah, a 50-year-old Palestinian Muslim woman dying in the ICU, Emily Rosencrans, Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital, USA; 14. Critical Response to Religious and Cultural Differences Case Studies, A Chaplain's Perspective, Karen Lieberman; 15. Critical Response to Religious and Cultural Differences Case Studies, A Family Medicine Physician's Response,Christopher Smyre, Northwestern McGaw Family Medicine Residency, USA; Afterword, Martin Walton, Protestant Theological University, The Netherlands