NJHA co-sponsored a program with the N.J. Bar Association, covering both the healthcare issues and legal implications of end-of-life care.

Speakers from both the medical and legal communities provided updates on advance directives, organ donation, brain death, the role of the state ombudsman’s office and special rules for individuals with developmental disorders. The group also discussed New Jersey’s POLST program – practitioner orders for life-sustaining treatment.

Today’s joint education session aimed to improve communication between attorneys and physicians with their clients and patients regarding goals and preferences for end-of-life care. It also gave attendees guidance on how to execute a POLST form and how it is different from an advance directive