By jlou - January 27, 2016

Christine J. Wilson, R.N., J.D., a lawyer based in Los Angeles, and David Chooljian, M.D., J.D., a VA clinician, speak on the legalities of California’s End of Life Option Act

Date: January 27, 2016.

California joins Oregon, Washington, and Vermont with a similar Legislative Act to permit physicians to aid in the end of life option. In Montana, physicians are protected but currently have no statutory procedures. What can we learn from the Oregon experience that can be applied to the new law in California? What are the ethical implications of this new law? We have made resources (guidelines, pdf of presentation, etc.. ) available to you below.

Chris Wilson received her nursing degree from the Los Angeles County Medical Center School of Nursing in 1980 and her Juris Doctorate from Whittier College, School of Law in 1986. Before completing her law degree, Ms. Wilson held various positions in both acute and skilled nursing facilities as a registered nurse, with a special emphasis on the health care needs of elderly and disabled individuals.

Ms. Wilson is a member of several local and national bar associations, including the Los Angeles County Bar Association where she has served as Co-Chair of the Bioethics Committee; she is also a member of the Joint Bioethics Committee of the LA County Bar and LA County Medical Association and previously served on the Board of Governors of the Beverly Hills Bar Association. She is also part of the Southern California Bioethics Committee Consortium.

A partner in the law firm of Tyler & Wilson, she advises health care providers, practitioners and individuals regarding legal and bioethical issues and also devotes a significant part of her practice to life planning including wills, trusts and powers of attorney for health care. She is also a bioethics consultant and mediator who uses her legal background and nursing experience to assist families and individuals in resolving conflicts concerning health care issues, including end-of-life care.

Resources