Practitioners who work with clients at the end of their lives face difficult decisions concerning the client's self-determination, the kind of death he or she will have, and the prolongation of life. They must also remain sensitive to the beliefs and needs of family members and the legal, ethical, and spiritual ramifications of the client's death. Featuring twenty-three decision cases based on interviews with professional social workers, this unique volume allows students to wrestle with the often incomplete and conflicting information, ethical issues, and time constraints of actual cases. Instead of offering easy solutions, this book provides detailed accounts that provoke stimulating debates among students, enabling them to confront their own responses, beliefs, and uncertainties to hone their critical thinking and decision making skills for professional practice. *Please note: Teaching Notes for this volume will be available from Electronic Hallway in Spring 2010. To access the Teaching Notes, you must first become a member of the Electronic Hallway. The main Electronic Hallway web page is at https://hallway.org/index.php. To join, click Become a Hallway Member in the Get Involved category or point your browser directly to https://hallway.org/involved/join.php and provide the required information. After your instructor status has been confirmed, you will receive an e-mail granting access to the Electronic Hallway. Once logged on to Electronic Hallway as a member, click Case Search in the Cases and Resources category on themain web page. Enter "death, dying, bereavement" (without the quotation marks) in the search box, select "all of the words" in the drop down menu, and click Submit. The search process will generate a list of Teaching Notes for cases from Dying, Death, and Bereavement in Social Work Practice: Decision Cases for Advanced Practice.

Effective social work practice hinges on solid critical thinking. The authors of this book have created an excellent resource challenging social workers to determine what is relevant, analyze information accurately, and generate sound interventions. The provocative 'real world' case summaries that stimulate thought, discussion, and even discomfort are exactly the kind of educational tools students need to enhance their skill level. -- Mary Raymer, president, Raymer Psychotherapy and Consultation Services, and past social work section chair for the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization

About the Author
Terry A. Wolfer is an associate professor of social work at the University of South Carolina and serves on the editorial board of Social Work in End-of-Life and Palliative Care. His research interests include social work education and religion and spirituality in social work practice. Vicki M. Runnion is a social worker at Hospice of Louisville, Kentucky. Employed in end-of-life care since 1980, she also staffs the ethics committee for the Hospice of Louisville and coordinates orientation for new social workers and chaplains. She was previously an adjunct instructor in social work at the University of South Carolina, Columbia College, and the University of Louisville.

Reviews
I know of no other work that provides such carefully detailed accounts of real life practice scenarios. The role of social workers and the dilemmas they face are illustrated beautifully across a variety of contexts. This volume serves as a valuable reference for all educators, students, and professionals seeking to understand the complexities of end-of-life care. -- Betty J. Kramer, University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Social Work A significant contribution. Faculty and students will appreciate having 'real life' decision cases that reflect the complexity of practice at end-of-life and during bereavement. -- Nancy Hooyman, School of Social Work at the University of Washington



Book Information
ISBN 9780231141758
Author Terry A. Wolfer
Format Paperback
Page Count 280
Imprint Columbia University Press
Publisher Columbia University Press