Death Panels We the People Have Created - Not the Government

I cringed and responded vehemently to any notion of "Death Panel" mentioned in blogs and forums since the announcement of the inclusion of advanced care planning into the reimbursable wellness visit.  This time it was imperative that people heard the truth - that advanced care planning does not involve deciding how to die early but how to live on our own terms.

In haste, I spoke to doctors in 3 different counties on yesterday and today letting them know advanced directives workshops would be scheduled in the community in order to educate the public and make the wellness visit much more efficient.  The patient would go into their visit armed with information and the important questions to help them understand and more importantly help their primary care provider understand personal wishes for options of care.

And today the news comes:

For Immediate Release:
January 5, 2011

 Hospice Community Disappointed in Administration's Decision
and Reminds All Americans of the Value of Advance Care Planning

(Alexandria, Va) ? "We are surprised that the Administration has decided to reverse the decision to include voluntary advance care planning consultations as part of a Medicare beneficiaries' annual wellness exam," remarked J. Donald Schumacher, president and CEO of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization.

On Wednesday I will go back to the 20 physicians with whom I have spoken in the past 2 days and say, "Sorry, we as a people do not want to let you know how we want to be treated at the end of life.  Whether I want everything possible to save or extend my life or whether I want nothing; you may never know".

Hopefully, those of us who care about our wishes being followed can make a stand and say what our choices will be and the providers we trust to make decisions on our behalf will have the intelligence and compassion to listen. 

My condolences to those who think they won the fight.

Posted via email from Hospice Volunteer Training Online

Contest without a Prize - Just rewards

Create a stamp to promote hospice awareness.

 

November 2011 is Hospice Awareness month.  Too soon to talk about it?

 

As 2010 drew to a close, this video with representation from many people

regarding what hospice means gave me time to think about other

creative ways to promote hospice awareness. 

 

Is it possible to have hospices and communities create their

own products to promote awareness of this wonderful, life

affirming benefit called hospice?

 

So here's the contest:

 

Create a stamp to promote hospice awareness.

Promote it everywhere including in a reply back to

this post.  The best stamp submitted wins.

 

If we can get a decent collection of possibilities then

I will post the stamps on a web page with a poll to vote.

 

No prize but lots of rewards for getting the word out.

 

Okay - what is your design?  Post your link here

in a reply to this post.  I can't wait to see what

folks can come up with.

 

Posted via email from Hospice Volunteer Training Online