#84 Supporting Surrogates: At the Bedside Segment

The podcast explores the challenges faced by surrogate decision-makers in healthcare and how clinicians can better support them. It highlights the difficulties surrogates encounter in understanding their role, honoring patient wishes, and managing the emotional toll of their decisions. The discussion includes insights from Dr. Lisa Vig, a geriatrician and palliative care specialist, and four surrogate decision-makers who share their experiences. Key points include the importance of clear communication, emotional validation, and honest prognostic information from healthcare providers. The podcast emphasizes that surrogates often grapple with guilt, PTSD, and complex family dynamics, underscoring the need for clinicians to approach these situations with empathy and curiosity.