Abstract
The purpose of this qualitative research study was designed to explore the topic of medical social workers’ best practices in supporting autonomy at end of life, specifically within a hospital setting. A total of eight licensed social workers with a minimum of five years’ experience practicing in a hospital setting located in the Twin Cities Metropolitan Region were interviewed. The results indicated that patient and family dynamics, education on end of life, advance directives and medical social workers’ role in supporting autonomy effect and influence best practices when supporting autonomy at end of life. Supplementary research should be considered to further explore specific methodology and technique used by medical social workers when working with patients at end of life in addition to explanations behind lack of core curriculum relating to end of life coursework in social work undergraduate and graduate programs.