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from our blog: living with dying |
August Blog Recap
Posted by Melissa Barber on August 30, 2010
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Photo by Marco
August has been a month of awakening for the Death with Dignity movement and end-of-life discussions. Here are some of the highlights:
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Two well-timed articles about the importance of end-of-life discussions are creating quite the buzz. Atul Gawande’s New Yorker article from the beginning of the month kicked off the discussion, and was soon followed by an article published in the New England Journal of Medicine about how palliative care extends life in patients with terminal lung cancer. These two articles set off a firestorm of responses on blogs, news sites as well as radio and television programs.
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The Vermont Democratic gubernatorial race is still too close to call. The voting results will be official tomorrow, and there will likely be a recount. The two leading candidates, separated by 192 votes, are committed to passing Death with Dignity legislation modeled on the Oregon law.
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New York recently passed their Patient Right to Palliative Care Information Act which is modeled on California’s 2008 Terminal Patients’ Right to Know End-of-Life Options Act. New York’s new law sparked a bit of conversation about the legal aspects of the law and the next steps for quality end-of-life care.
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The Journal of Medical Ethics published a London study about a how doctor's religion relates to discussing end-of-life care options with their patients. The study found doctors who identify as "strongly" or "very strongly non-religious" were twice as likely to discuss end-of-life options which include palliative sedation than their "strongly" religious counterparts.
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Pew Research Center found older adults are adopting social media at an accelerated rate, and we joined the discussion too! Please find the Death with Dignity National Center on Twitter and Facebook, and effortlessly keep up on daily information and musings.
Update 8/31/10: The Vermont gubernatorial primary results were certified today with Peter Shumlin winning the race by 197 votes. His closest challenger, Doug Racine, has requested a recount.
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About Death with Dignity
The greatest human freedom is to live, and die, according to one's own desires and beliefs. From advance directives to physician-assisted dying, death with dignity is a movement to provide options for the dying to control their own end-of-life care.
Death with Dignity National Center is the leader in this movement, successfully establishing, advancing and defending the landmark Oregon and Washington Death with Dignity Acts.
Political Action Fund
The Death with Dignity National Center partners with the Oregon Death with Dignity Political Action Fund to conduct lobbying and political activities in order to achieve the enactment of Death with Dignity laws in other states.
Learn more about the Oregon Death with Dignity Political Action Fund.
Patients & Families
The Death with Dignity National Center was formed out of a profound commitment to the idea that personal end-of-life decisions should be made solely between a patient and a physician. We are pleased to provide you with support and information as you face the difficult challenges ahead.
Research Center
We have compiled a comprehensive collection of legal briefs, journal articles, and newspaper clippings. We invite you to explore the wide array of information we have collected throughout our history.
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