Thursday, September 17, 2026

1:15 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. - Norfolk Courthouse Rotunda

Free to NPBA members; $30 non-members

2 CLE hr

Area of Law:  Health Law, Trusts & Estates, Elder Law, Estate Planning

Thaddeus Mason Pope, JD, PhD, HEC-C, is a foremost expert on

medical law and clinical ethics. He focuses on patient rights and

healthcare decision making, especially at the end of life.

A fellow of the Hastings Center and previously both a Fulbright Canada Research Chair in Health Law, Policy, and Ethics, and a visiting scholar with the Brocher Foundation in Switzerland; Pope is now a Professor at Mitchell Hamline School of Law in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

Summary:

Over 80,000 Virginians will die in 2026. While many of these people want to control the timing and manner of their death, many cannot. First, only a minority of Virginians know their end-of-life options. Second, even fewer have done the necessary planning. This session helps address the persistently prevalent problem of value-incongruent care for the seriously and terminally ill.

At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to:

• Explain the importance of advance care planning.
• Distinguish an advance directive from a POLST.
• Understand the clinical, ethical, and legal aspects of Voluntarily Stopping Eating and Drinking (VSED).
• Understand the clinical, ethical, and legal aspects of Medical Aid in Dying (MAID).
• Appraise the appropriateness of a dementia VSED directive for their clients.

Disclaimer

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