Description:

Decision-making capacity (DMC) is one of the most misunderstood and most clinically important concepts in patient care. Clinicians face it constantly, yet common myths about what capacity is, who has it, and who gets to assess it lead to errors that undermine patient autonomy and complicate care.

In this webinar, Jason Lesandrini, PhD, FACHE, HEC-C, LPEC, breaks down the core elements of decision-making capacity and works through ten of the most persistent myths in clinical practice, from the confusion between capacity and legal competency, to the mistaken belief that cognitive impairment or a psychiatric diagnosis automatically means a patient can’t make their own decisions.

Attendees will leave with a clearer framework for assessing capacity at the bedside, a better understanding of when and how capacity can change over time, and practical guidance for supporting patients and their surrogates when capacity is in question.

Learning Outcomes:

• TBD

Faculty

Jason Lesandrini, PhD

Jason Lesandrini, PhD, is an expert in healthcare ethics with a particular focus on building ethical capacity, developing leaders, and shaping organizational culture. He leads the departments of ethics, advance care planning, spiritual health, and language access services for Wellstar Health System, where he oversees ethics program across a 13-hospital system.

Dr. Lesandrini is a frequent presenter at national conferences and professional gatherings, speaking on topics ranging from clinical ethics and end-of-life care to ethical leadership and organizational culture. He has served as an ethics resource and presenter for organizations including the American College of Healthcare Executives and the American Board of Medical Specialties, among others. His work in clinical ethics reflects a longstanding commitment to ensuring patients and families navigate the hardest moments of life with dignity and clarity. He currently serves as a Board Member of the Georgia Hospice and Palliative Care Organization.

Dr. Lesandrini holds faculty appointments at Mercer University and South College’s Physician Assistant Programs and teaches ethics to undergraduates at Georgia Tech. He holds a PhD in Healthcare Ethics from Duquesne University, a Master of Arts in Philosophy from Georgia State University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Michigan State University. He is a Certified Healthcare Ethics Consultant (HEC-C), a Leadership Professional in Ethics and Compliance (LPEC), and a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE).