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OUTREACH / PARTNERSHIP
COMMITTEE
Our Partnership Committee has become fully active, already reaching out to
like-minded organizations.
VISION: Believing that the individual has the right and the
responsibility to choose the manner of her/his death, Compassion & Choices would
like to partner with other groups interested in end-of-life issues to establish
common ground for understanding and achieving death with dignity.
SITUATION ANALYSIS: To avoid competition and misunderstanding among
groups interested in end-of-life issues, we would like to establish criteria for
a good death.
PLAN: For purposes of information-gathering, members of C&C will meet
with representatives of different groups to discuss the following issues
relative to a good death:
Achieve pain management
Arrange for patient participation in treatment
Prepare patients for death (resolving conflicts, saying goodbye,
tying up loose ends, spending time with friends and family)
Establish networks of support (doctors, nurses, social workers,
chaplains, pharmacists)
Arrange for grief and/or legal counseling
Find ways for C&C and other groups to work together
GROUPS TO CONTACT: National C&C, hospices, hospitals, ACLU, AARP,
Colorado Bar, Funeral Consumer Agency, Final Exit, Association of Grief
Counselors, Regis School for Nursing, Center for Ethics and Humanities. If
readers wish to suggest other groups, please contact the editor at
newman36@comcast.net.
MARKETING COSTS: $2,000 for printing materials, meetings, lunches
STAFFING: Volunteers
SCHEDULING: Meeting once monthly, we will collate material, write
reports, meet with executives from the targeted groups, and make plans to
utilize information.
MEMBERS: Marilyn Amer, Nancy Bale, Mary Hoagland, Wye Hale-Rowe, Ray
Hockedy, Peter Mayerson, MD, Adele Phelan, Helen Voorhis
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THE LEGAL
CENTER FOR PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES AND OLDER PEOPLE
Ray Hockedy and Mary Hoagland had
a cordial meeting with Marianne Harvey at The Legal
Center for People with Disabilities and Older People
(455 Sherman, Suite 130, 303.722.0300, x215)
Their mission is protection and advocacy for people with
disabilities and the elderly including:
o Developmental disabilities
and special education
o Mental illness
o People with HIV
o Work training for Social Security recipients
o Traumatic brain injury
“Elder” is defined as anyone 60
and older
The organization has existed since 1976
They are part of a national network and are authorized
under law
They can investigate abuse and neglect
They have nine attorneys on their staff
The second office in Colorado is in Grand Junction
They contract with the State Department of Human
Services for The Colorado Long-Term
Care Ombudsman program
Most clients are low income and on a Medicaid waiver
80% of their funding is federal; 20% is private
Marianne knows Virginia Fraser and has heard of Hemlock.
She seems to personally be supportive of our cause.
Concerning our issues and legislation, Marianne would
take direction from her board but she thinks they would
remain neutral or silent. It was recommended that we
contact Julie Reiskin, an individual with the Colorado
Cross Disability Coalition. We will issue a follow-up
report.
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ACLU
Cathy just attended an ACLU national meeting in Seattle and went to a
session given by Peter Goodwin, MD. She saw a physician’s order
for life-sustaining treatment (not a legal document) and felt that it
was somewhat flawed.
Cathy suggested we meet with the disability community, a group which
she sees as our main opposition. Her suggestion is that we
approach this as a life choice to be made by a terminally ill person,
not euthanasia decided upon by someone else.
She indicated that the ACLU views us in a positive manner and looks
at our issue of individual choice at the end of life as a civil liberty,
something which should not involve government or churches. Note
that a civil liberty is something that is in the U.S. Constitution
(although not necessarily recognized), whereas a civil right is in a
statute.
Cathy is aware of SB 102. (SB
102 states that a health care provider cannot be charged with
manslaughter if a patient dies as a result of medication if the purpose
of that medication was pain relief).
She is not aware of any end-of-life issues that the ACLU has taken to
court but would let us know if any comes to mind.
Cathy and the ACLU generally support us in our efforts, and she is
considering whether she will write an article for our next publication.
Also, she may mention us in the next publication from the ACLU in
Denver. Note that our cause is not a high priority issue with
ACLU. However, if we brought a case to their attention, the ACLU
would consider providing legal assistance. Also, Cathy will
contact us if she sees something at ACLU which she considers as our
issue.
The last time ACLU Denver worked on an issue that was related to end
of life was in the 2006 legislative session and they actively opposed
SB158 and were successful is getting it stopped in committee.
Their summary is on their web site, www.ACLU-CO.org.
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AARP
Mary Hoagland and Ray Hockedy have met with the Colorado CEO of AARP. The
following summarizes what occurred at their meeting with Jon Looney (AARP state
director) and Jim Dolbier, a volunteer. Both provide leadership in their
volunteer efforts within our state.
We discussed our agenda; Jon stated that AARP does not take a stance
on aid-in-dying but does advocate having a living will and durable power
of attorney.
He asked us to note that AARP policy is set completely at the
national level.
AARP in Colorado has volunteers to lobby for their bills in the state
legislature.
We asked if C&C could advertise in their mailing; Jon did not know
but suggested that our national leadership communicate with their
national leadership on this issue.
Also, Jon suggested that perhaps our national leadership could
propose an article to AARP’s national leadership concerning issues about
death and dying. This is one way that we could, perhaps, get some
exposure in their mailing (which is the largest in the U.S. at over 35
million members)
Jon stated that individuals representing the Catholic Church have
told him that AARP supports physician assistance in dying since they do
not take an active stance opposing it.
Jon would look at any legislation we proposed at a state level
dealing with advance directives and see if AARP could support it.
AARP’s agenda does not presently include being secure in having options in
dying.
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HOSPICE
Marilyn Amer and Peter Mayerson, MD, visited two hospices:
Namaste:
staff meeting (20 persons in
attendance) Director: Jan Bezuidenhout
Denver Hospice: Bev Sloan, CEO and Gary Graham
MD, Medical Director
Those with whom we met were welcoming and interested in what we are doing and
why we are there. We established a relationship based on common interest in
end-of-life care and shared information, referrals, and philosophies.
Neither hospice was into physician-assisted dying, per se, but rather in
keeping patients comfortable (palliative care).
There were diverse opinions of staff. Those against physician aid in dying
felt that the process of death had a "majesty" which had to be respected. "Let
it happen without artifice," e.g., no feeding tubes, no ventilators, et cetera.)
The focus was on acceptance and a peaceful death.
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Compassion
in Dying End-of-Life Choices 
