At Compassion & Choices, our Policy Team isn’t just tracking research and legislation — they’re shaping the future of patient-directed care. As legal experts on medical aid in dying and end-of-life healthcare reform, they ensure that Compassion & Choices’ work and policy positions are evidence-based and informed by the needs of terminally ill adults.

Last week, three members of our team — Jaspreet Chowdhary (senior legislative counsel), Marisa Bartolotta (policy counsel), and Kathryn Kucyk (legislative counsel) — brought their expertise to the Health Law Professors Conference in Boston, hosted by the American Society of Law, Medicine, and Ethics (ASLME). They contributed to a panel on Decision-Making, Advance Directives, and End-of-Life Care, an opportunity to share research and start conversations on the following critical topics.

Advocating for Concurrent Care

Marisa Bartolotta spotlighted concurrent care, a policy solution that would allow terminally ill patients to receive hospice support without giving up curative treatment. Right now, U.S. policy forces patients to make a difficult choice between the two. “This barrier discourages many from enrolling in hospice early enough to benefit,” Marisa shared. “Concurrent care would provide a bridge of support that allows for a more gradual, compassionate, and realistic transition to full comfort care.”

Addressing End-of-Life Disparities 

Jaspreet Chowdhary focused on the stark racial and ethnic disparities in end-of-life education and access to care. “As a result of systemic barriers, communities of color are less likely than their white counterparts to talk about or document end-of-life wishes,” she said. Her presentation called on legal professionals to play an active role in closing these gaps — including through education, clear communication, and community outreach.

Using Data to Drive Policy Change

In her presentation, Kathryn Kucyk emphasized the power of data in shaping policy. Drawing on examples from medical-aid-in-dying laws across the U.S., she illustrated how data collection and policy surveillance can strengthen public health outcomes and improve legislation over time.

The panel sparked meaningful dialogue and helped introduce more legal professionals to the nuanced realities of end-of-life care. We’re proud of our team’s leadership and look forward to continuing the conversation — and the movement — for equitable, patient-driven healthcare.

Learn more about the crucial issues Compassion & Choices is addressing, from medical aid in dying to health equity at the end of life and more.

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