Medical Professionals' Perceptions of and Experiences With Terminally Ill Orthodox Jewish Patients.

Abstract

Orthodox Jewish patients with terminal illnesses have unique goals and desires, often driven by halakha (Jewish law and ethics) and cultural norms. We conducted a quality improvement project investigating the baseline perceptions and experiences of medical professionals who care for Orthodox Jewish patients with terminal illnesses. The survey included health care professionals who cared for Orthodox Jewish patients as part of Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Oncology, or Palliative Care and Hospice teams. The three main elements of the survey included respondent demographics, multiple choice selections, and a free-text section. A total of 73 medical professionals responded to the survey. Several important findings were noted. Compared to the general population, Orthodox Jewish patients with terminal illnesses are more likely to request aggressive measures at end-of-life and are less likely to have completed advanced directives and health care power of attorney documentation. They also do not always have a rabbinic authority involved in decision-making. Health care professionals highlighted strong religious and community support as positive elements of caring for this population and recommend that medical teams establish early and direct communication with rabbinic authorities for those patients for whom a rabbi's involvement is desired. These data inform ongoing next steps to improve the quality of care for these patients and their families.