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Comprehensive
Palliative Care Program 
For Health Care Providers - End of Life Conversations
The following information are useful tips on how to have a meaningful
conversation with a patient about advance care planning.
Download and print this communication
card. (Adobe PDF)
Tips to Remember When Talking to Patients About Surrogates
Some Important Phrases
| To Open: |
| If something happens and you become critically
ill or you are in the ICU and I cannot talk to you about what treatments
are appropriate, who should I talk to? |
| Have you asked this person if that are willing
to make decisions for you if you are really sick? |
| If the person is NOT the closest
relative: |
| Have you told X that you wanted Y rather than
them to do this? |
| Have you spoken with X about what you would
want if you became sicker and needed to be in the ICU or on machines?
If YES, can you tell me what you spoke about or what you told
them about your wishes? |
| If they say their surrogate
knows what they'd want, but have not spoken directly about this: |
| In my experience having a real conversation is
very helpful for your X. When people have not spoken to their loved
one and something should happen, it is very hard for X to be sure
of what you wanted. It is much easier for your X if you would talk
to them. |
| Additional Tips: |
- Reassure patient - if appropriate.
- Get commitment to talk with their surrogate about these issues.
- Give them materials to take home and review with their family.
- Be open if they want to talk about advanced care planning
now.
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If you need to make a referral to the Comprehensive Palliative
Care Program, or need additional information, please call 412-692-4834
or e-mail Dr. Robert Arnold at rabob@pitt.edu.
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