The WVU medical and law schools partner to help cancer patients.
written by SUSAN JOHNSON
HE WAS A SINGLE DAD WITH YOUNG CHILDREN—not your typical terminal patient at the WVU Cancer Institute treatment center in Morgantown. “He was in denial about his condition,” explains social worker Phoebe Weiler. “It had never occurred to him that he needed a lawyer, even in the face of a grim diagnosis.”
Luckily for Weiler, she was able to call Suzanne Weise at the nearby WVU College of Law. Weise heads up the Child and Family Advocacy Law Clinic for third-year students studying to be attorneys. Professor Weise paired the young man with a student in the clinic. Within 48 hours, he was able to sign a durable power of attorney and a will.
The partnership between the two centers was the brainchild of Laurel Lyckholm, M.D., professor of hematology and oncology at the WVU School of Medicine and Cancer Institute.
Lyckholm had worked with a similar set-up at her previous hospital, according to law professor Weise. “It helps the patient and family tremendously to have a legal expert provide free advice and support them through whatever legal process they must deal with,” she said in a press release. Since August of 2022, eligible cancer patients under her care have received assistance with matters including powers of attorney, social security disability benefits, divorces, custody, guardianship, wills, estate planning property deed issues, housing concerns, and end-of-life financial planning.
The arrangement works especially well in Morgantown because of the close proximity of the medical center to the law school, both adjacent to Milan Puskar Stadium on the Evansdale campus. Third-year law students like Aly Fleenor can be at the Cancer Institute in mere minutes. “We will actually meet with patients while they are having infusion treatments,” the Oceana native says. “Social workers like Phoebe Weiler are wonderful in finding spaces for us to meet with clients and even providing us with witnesses and notarizations.”
For its part, the Child and Family Advocacy Clinic functions like a law firm. “As director, I act as managing partner,” Professor Weise explained. “My students are similar to new lawyers, bound by the same ethical rules as all attorneys.” Under the supervision of faculty lawyers who mentor them, students interview clients, prepare court documents, appear in court, and interact with opposing counsel and judges. All of this, with the exception of court filing fees, is free to the client.
For law students like Aly Fleenor, the legal experience is invaluable. “We handle a case from beginning to end. Interns in law firms don’t get to do that.” Mostly, though, she cherishes the opportunity to help people who are under tremendous stress. “Cancer is a horrible disease. It is gratifying personally to make their lives easier, to take a few items off their list of things to worry about.”
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