Ventura, CA - Healthcare decisions at the end of life – democracy or death panels? – will be the focus of a free seminar Community Memorial Health System is holding as part of its 2014 Ethics in Healthcare Series on Wednesday, April 16.

Jim Hornstein, M.D., chairman of the Bioethics Committee at Community Memorial Hospital, will moderate the seminar that will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Museum of Ventura County, located at 100 E. Main St. in Ventura. The seminar will be held in recognition of National Healthcare Decision Day.

Other featured speakers will be Charles Pankratz, M.D., medical director of CMHS’s Palliative Care Services; Diana Jaquez, R.N., CMHS’s Palliative Care Services clinical manager; and Leslie-Lynn Pawson, M.D., chief of staff and palliative care physician of the Ventura County Medical Center.

Registration is free but reservations are required. Call 1-800/906-6093, or visit www.cmhshealth.org/rsvp.

Community Memorial Health System is a not-for-profit health system, which is comprised of Community Memorial Hospital, Ojai Valley Community Hospital, and 11 family-practice health centers entitled Centers for Family Health. The health system is located in Ventura County, California.