Dannion Brinkley
Compassion in Action
Chairman Calls for Continued Focus on Improving End of Life Care
November 19, 2001
(Los Angeles, CA) In recognition of National Hospice Month, Dannion
Brinkley, Chairman of the Board of Compassion in Action calls for a
continued focus on improving end of life care. The hospice approach
to care for the terminally ill - a team approach with a particular emphasis
on palliative care - has brought about great improvement in how we deal
with death in America. However, with over 6,000 people a day dying in
this country, - 1,200 of those being World War II veterans, we have
much more to do to improve their last days.
"I applaud
Attorney General John Ashcroft for his desire to see end of life care
improved" Brinkley stated, " and for his concern about legalizing
euthanasia in the United States. In 24 years in hospice and over 9,500
hours at the bedside of veterans and civilians, I have seen three major
reasons why people want to take their own life: (1) improper pain management,
(2) loss of dignity and control over their lives, and (3) the burden
they feel their illness is creating for family members. All three of
these can create undue stress and depression for all concerned. That
is why Compassion in Action - the Twilight Brigade (whose mission is
that no one need die alone) is committed to training people to deal
with end of life care issues, particularly for our veterans. In the
last four years since we were founded, we have trained over 4,000 volunteers.
These volunteers serve at the bedside of veterans and in communities.
With the combination of religions, institutions, and the medical establishment,
our approach to end of life care has been haphazard at best. With so
many different approaches and with the lack of debate, due mostly to
fear, we have a long way to go in dealing with end of life the right
way. The current approach to pain management leaves a lot to be desired.
Without a physical, mental, and spiritual approach, we will never find
the right combination to eliminate the unnecessary suffering of the
dying. We are seeing what research is showing that through a comprehensive
approach - the integration of complementary therapies such as music
therapy, acupuncture, guided imagery, and therapeutic touch combined
with conventional therapies - the quality of end of life care can be
improved for patients and their families. "
"As the Chairman
of a national non-profit foundation focused on improving end of life
care, it is not my place to take sides for or against Americans who
are so desperate during the dying process that they want to choose their
own time of death." Brinkley stated, "but I am for doing my
best to make sure someone is there who values that every breath they
breathe on this earth counts and to comfort them and their family through
these difficult times. I would like to leave you with one of the most
common statements I hear from veterans as they face the last days of
their life - 'Do you think I will be remembered for what I went through?
And does anyone really care?' As we approach the first Thanksgiving
since the tragedies of September 11, we have soldiers in harm's way,
think of them - pray for them. And go visit a veteran - someone who
was there to protect us when we needed them, and who we must be there
for now that they need us. Please go visit a veteran though this holiday
season. "
P.O.
Box 84013 © Los Angeles, California 90073 © Phone (310) 473-1941
Fax (310) 473-1951 © http://www.dannion.com © CFC Designation
# 1058
E-Mail: CIAChairman@aol.com
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