MN Medical Professionals: Tell lawmakers you support palliative care, not assisted suicide!
There is proposed legislation in both the Minnesota House (HF 345) and Senate (SF 112) to create a Palliative Care Advisory Committee. This committee would evaluate the current status of palliative care in Minnesota, while exploring ways to remove barriers and increase access to this important treatment option.
Background
- Palliative care is about improving quality of life by treating the person as well as the disease. This team-based approach to care provides an extra layer of support to relieve pain, symptoms, and the stress of serious illness, and can be provided alongside curative treatment. It helps both the patient and family, and is appropriate at any age and any stage.
- Advances in medicine mean many of us will live longer and also live better – even in the face of serious illnesses such as cancer. Palliative care helps patients and their families realize the benefits of these advances, and also creates care efficiencies that can curb costs.
- Lack of understanding about palliative care remains one of the chief barriers preventing access to it. Consumer research commissioned collaboratively by the American Cancer Society, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, and the Center to Advance Palliative Care confirmed that 92 percent of patients and caregivers want this kind of integrated care once they understand it using their own terms, and they believe people should be educated about it.
- Access to palliative care in Minnesota is uneven – creating an advisory council on palliative care can help. As of 2015, 44 percent of sole community provider hospitals and 55 percent of hospitals with fewer than 50 beds did not have palliative care programs. There is also a major shortage in doctors, nurses, and other staff trained to provide palliative care. An advisory council can help lawmakers identify gaps in health systems and workforce.
Unlike assisted suicide, palliative care is a proven, ethical way of providing care and comfort to those in the midst of serious illness or at the end of life. Tell your legislators to support the Palliative Care Advisory Committee!