AG ADDS END OF LIFE CARE ISSUES TO WEBSITE; WILL SPEAK AT MAINE PAIN INITIATIVE SYMPOSIUM

September 22, 2003

SEPTEMBER 22, 2003

CARMEN COULOMBE, ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL, 207-626-8544

 

            The Attorney General’s Office recently added to its website a new web page regarding end of life care issues.  The page is aimed at helping people plan for end of life care and pain management.  Anyone can access this page at: http://www.maine.gov/ag/index.php?r=elderissues&s=endoflife&t=. style="mso-tab-count: 1">  

The new page offers resources to help answer questions such as:

-         What steps people can take to make sure that their wishes are respected when they are in the process of dying?

-         What can be done to assure that minor and adult children who can not look after themselves will be cared for after the death of a parent?

-         What protections are available to ensure proper pain management for terminally ill patients?

-         What resources exist for people with terminal illness and their families? 

Surveys on end of life issues show that most people wish to die at home, surrounded by loved ones and free from pain.  In reality, most people die alone, in institutions and in pain.  Attorney General Rowe hopes that the information on the web page will help people make decisions so that the reality of the end of life will more often line up with their wishes.

Attorney General Rowe will speak Wednesday, September 24 at 8 a.m. at the Samoset Resort in Rockland at the 9th Annual Pain Initiative Symposium.  The conference will give primary care physicians, legal professionals, patients and family members an opportunity to learn more about improving pain management in Maine.  For more information about the conference, call (800) 438-5963 or send email to MPI@mainehospicecouncil.org. 

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