Hospice & Palliative Care

Speakers:
Michael Mencias, MD, FAAHPM
Senior Hospice Medical Director
MJHS Hospice and Palliative Care

Edward O’Hanlan, LMSW
Social Worker
MJHS Hospice and Palliative Care

Purpose: Governor Kathy Hochul signed New York’s Medical Aid in Dying (MAID) law on February 6, 2026. This puts New York as the 13th state to legalize the practice and allow terminally ill patients to regain control of their own death. All clinicians in New York State, particularly in hospice and palliative care, will need to be prepared as this new law comes into effect, respond to patient and family inquiries regarding the procedure, and incorporate them into their policies. This webinar will discuss the practice of MAID since it was first legalized in Oregon in 1997, the ethical implications, the requirements for medical documentation, and the dispensing and administration of life-ending medications.

Objectives:

1. Discuss the history of Medical Aid in Dying in the United States, leading up to the State of New York law
2. Discuss the requirements for medical documentation, dispensing, and administering the life-ending medications
3. Provide suggestions on how to develop organizational policies and procedures for Medical Aid in Dying

Target Audience: Primary care providers, nurse practitioners, palliative care specialists, pain specialists, registered nurses, advanced practice nurses, registered nurses with a specialty in palliative care/hospice, social workers, allied health professionals, fellows, residents, and medical students

Criteria for Successful Completion:

1. Attendance at entire session
2. Submission of completed evaluation form

Continuing Education Credits: 1.0

Continuing Education Accreditation

Physicians: The AAFP has reviewed MJHS 2025-2026 Interprofessional Webinar Series, and deemed it acceptable for AAFP credit. Term of approval is from 09/18/2025 to 08/31/2026. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

This session Medical Aid in Dying in New York State is approved for 1.0 online AAFP Elective credits.

Note: Physicians should contact their respective licensing boards and specialty certification boards about acceptance of AAFP Elective credits when attempting to satisfy CME credit requirements.

Nurses: The MJHS Institute for Innovation in Palliative Care is an approved provider of nursing continuing professional development by the Northeast Multistate Division Education Unit, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

Social Workers: MJHS Institute for Innovation in Palliative Care is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0242.

Fees:
Individual: Free (includes CME/CE certificate)
Group: Free (includes unlimited CME/CE certificates)

System Requirements for Computers and Mobile Devices:
https://support.goto.com/webinar/help/system-requirements

Disclosures:
Michael Mencias, MD, FAAHPM, and Edward O’Hanlan, LMSW, have no financial arrangements or affiliations with any commercial entities whose products, research, or services may be discussed in these materials. Any discussion of investigational or unlabeled uses of a product will be identified.

No Planning Committee Member has any disclosures.

Planning Committee Members
Myra Glajchen, DSW
Kerrianne P. Page, MD, HMDC
Joyce Palmieri, MS, RN, CHPN
Karen Richards, PhD, EdS