ABCD Exchange : December 1998 : Lunch Bunch - First Meeting
Upfront -
Congressional Forum on Pain Management
President's
Letter - Kevorkian Deserves Outrage
QuickScan -
News in Brief
Kevorkian
Faces Homicide Charges
Commentary -
Kevorkian on 60 Minutes - 1
Commentary -
Kevorkian on 60 Minutes - 2
Resources -
Recycling Medical Devices
First Lunch Bunch Meeting a Success -- Participants Collaborate on Federal Agenda
by Janet Heald Forlini, J.D.
When it considered the Lethal Drug Abuse Prevention Act last session, Congress opened the door to increased attention to issues such as appropriate pain management. Now, ABCD wants to capitalize on this increased focus and get policymakers talking about what a federal agenda on end-of-life care should entail. To do so, ABCD brought together 40 individuals representing various groups to debate this very question. Our first "Lunch Bunch" meeting held October 28 proved successful.
Participants discussed various ideas for change at the two-hour meeting. Some suggestions included:
- Establishing an Office of Palliative Care in HHS to push for increased research, provide grants and distribute a "best practices" list;
- Adding the right to effective services to the Patients’ Bill of Rights;
Creating incentives for practicing professionals to take continuing education courses in end-of-life care;
- Increasing interaction between state medical boards and the DEA; and
- Passing the Advance Planning and Compassionate Care Act of 1997.
ABCD has compiled all suggestions made at the first lunch meeting, as well as those made subsequently and has established a forum on our web site (www.abcd-caring.org) for this list. We welcome all suggestions and will continue to add to the list, with the caveat that ABCD will not necessarily support or push for all recommendations this coming session. If you have an idea for legislative reform in end-of-life care please email us at: caring@erols.com.
The first Lunch Bunch was a huge success -- the sharing of ideas, innovations, and business cards was of benefit to many. In mid-December, the American Pain Foundation and the National Hospice Organization will co-host a meeting on "Pain Management and Palliative Care as an Arena for Legislative Attention."
As we move ahead and work to ensure that end-of-life care is a presence on the legislative radar screen, please send us your ideas. Hearing about your personal or clinical experiences will help shape our legislative agenda this coming session.
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This content is provided by Americans for Better Care of the Dying. For more information, visit www.abcd-caring.org.