Ethicist and Author Joanne Lynn to Discuss 'How We Die and What We Can Do About It' October 6

September 28, 2005

September 28, 2005, Greencastle, Ind. - Joanne Lynn, M.D. -- ethicist, hospice physician, health services researcher, and author of Sick To Death and Not Going to Take It Anymore!: Reforming Health Care for the Last Years of Life -- will visit DePauw University on Thursday, October 6. Dr. Lynne will discuss "How We Die and What We Can Do About It" at 4 p.m. in the auditorium of the Richard E. Peeler Art Center. The lecture is free and open to the public.

Dr. Lynn is an internationally-known leader in helping terminally ill patients improve quality of life. She is president of Americans for Better Care of the Dying, a non-profit organization that promotes public understanding and coalitions across organizations to improve end of life care; director of the Washington Home Center for Palliative Care Studies; and a senior scientist at RAND Corporation. Dr. Lynn served as project director of the President's Commission for the Study of Ethical Problems in Medicine and Biomedical and Behavioral Research and principal writer of the Commission's book, Deciding to Forego Life-Sustaining Treatment.

"Joanne Lynn is a national treasure -- the most articulate, courageous, and scientifically-grounded voice in our nation for the improvement of health care for people approaching the end of life," says Donald M. Berwick, M.D., M.P.P., president and CEO of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement. "For the public and professionals alike, her work provides motivation and sound guidance for building the care system we need, a system that we do not yet, by any means, have."

"Joanne Lynn is arguably the most knowledgeable person in the country, if not the world, on issues associated with care for the dying," adds David H. Smith, Robert and Carolyn Frederick Distinguished Visiting Professor of Ethics at DePauw University. "Her visit will provide a tremendous opportunity for learning and engagement for members of the campus community, as well as physicians, nurses, and other professionals concerned with care for the dying."

Learn more about Sick To Death and Not Going to Take It Anymore! by clicking here.

On September 16, DePauw announced plans to establish the Janet Prindle Institute for Ethics to be located within the DePauw University Nature Park. Read more in this previous story.

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