2025 Colorado Healthcare Ethics Forum Annual Conference

Welcome and introductions.

Join Elizabeth Moran, Executive Director at The Arc of Colorado, to learn more about Colorado's Supported Decision-making (SDM) Agreement law, what SMD is, and isn't, and 5 things you can do RIGHT NOW to be a part of meaningful systems change that honors dignity of choice and supporting an individual's will and preference. This session will provide a 2024 guardianship-to-supported decision-making case study, with ample time for Q&A and participant discussion.  

Session objectives:

1. Identify less-restrictive alternatives to guardianship/conservatorship.
2. Have a basic understanding of generally recognized best practices of Supported Decision-Making and related agreements.
3. Identify up to 5 things (tools or action steps) they can take RIGHT NOW to incorporate SDM into their practice.

We will discuss and examine the proxy decision-making process, including finding, working with, and terminating a proxy decision-maker, focusing on the related ethical issues. In addition, we will discuss and examine non-proxy surrogate decision-makers and the ethical issues therein.

Objectives:

1. Learn how to conduct a proxy decision-maker appointment process.
2. Learn how to effectively communicate with family members and patients about the process and procedures in both proxy and surrogate decision-makers.

Conference wrap-up. This session will cover the key points covered during the day.