The End of Life Law for Clinicians (ELLC) training program is embedded in the medical curriculum of six undergraduate medical schools across Australia. ELLC’s 10,000th registrant, Isabella, was a final year medical student who completed ELLC’s online training modules as part of her final year at Curtin Medical School.
Isabella is now an intern in a metropolitan hospital. At this early stage of her career, she has not yet been actively involved in complex end of life decision-making. However, Isabella reports that completion of the ELLC training has still been valuable.
The ELLC modules were a great learning tool for junior clinicians such as myself, who may not have much practical experience or exposure to end of life and palliative care. It was a great introductory tool into understanding the different factors of death and dying and how we can best facilitate treatment or care for these patients.
Discussing end of life decisions can be confronting for both doctors and patients alike. Similarly, discussion around withholding and withdrawing treatment and futile or non-beneficial treatment can be challenging for practitioners to navigate. The ELLC modules can assist medical students and junior doctors to be more confident in having these discussions with patients and their families. Isabella agreed:
I would say the modules have helped me feel more comfortable with the concept of dying, and how this may align with my practice of helping my patients in the best possible way, even if this means ceasing medicines or not continuing with certain life-prolonging treatments.
The introduction of voluntary assisted dying (VAD) laws in all Australian states means that clinicians have specific roles, rights, and legal obligations under the VAD legislation in their jurisdiction. Isabella found the VAD module to be particularly beneficial:
I found it largely useful in introducing the concept and helping me understand the role I can play as a junior doctor in facilitating or offering VAD for my patients.
Overall, Isabella found the ELLC training modules to be a:
…straightforward and practical resource for medical students and junior doctors alike in helping to explore the concept of palliative care and managing patients in the way that provides them with the most comfort and control.
Testimonials
Other participants discuss the benefits of the ELLC training program in the video below:
Find out more
End of Life Law for Clinicians (ELLC) is a free training program for medical practitioners, nurses, allied and other
health professionals, and health professional students about the law relating to end of life decision-making. More information is available on the ELLC Training Program brochure.
To register for the ELLC Training Program*, visit the End of Life Law for Clinicians website.
*CPD points may be claimed from your professional body. Certificates of completion are available.