In the News

April 2008 Newsletter available online.

A new book that will interest you:

To Die Well: Your Right to Comfort, Calm, and Choice in the Last Days of Life, Sidney Wanzer, M.D., and Joseph Glenmullen, M.D., Da Capo Press.

While every one of us hopes "to die well," this may not be possible without knowing our rights about care at the end of life. How can futile treatment be stopped? When might death be hastened? How can each of us retain control of these decisions? The information in To Die Well is both comforting and empowering, and Drs. Sidney Wanzer and Joseph Glenmullen do not shy away from controversy. They make clear what patients should expect of their doctors, including the right to sufficient pain medication even if it shortens life, and they also explain the ways to hasten death that are legal and possible for anyone.

"Everyone approaching the end of life should read this superb book. In clear, practical terms it explains what you can do to achieve the peaceful death everyone wants but too few people have." –Marcia Angell M.D, Harvard Medical School, former Editor-in-Chief, New England Journal of Medicine.

"Sidney Wanzer was one of the first mainstream U.S. physicians to advocate openly both for improvements in palliative care and for more choice about hastening death if suffering becomes intolerable. Those who want to learn about all of their potential end-of-life options would do well to read this book."--Timothy E. Quill, M.D., author of Death and Dignity: Making Choices and Taking Charge

"The discussion of the 'turning points' of care is a welcome and needed addition to the current debates. An immense contribution." --Richard Macdonald, M.D., Former President, World Federation of Right-to-Die Societies

"The most comprehensive and understandable view to date of how patients, families and doctors can successfully confront the imposing challenges of life-threatening and fatal illness." --Edward Lowenstein, M.D., Harvard Medical School, Division of Medical Ethics.

To purchase the book or obtain more information, see www.todiewell.com

New client center training program for volunteers
In spring 2007 Compassion & Choices joined its chapter, Compassion & Choices of Greater Boston, in a program to improve the care of clients facing the end of life by organizing and training a volunteer client support team to provide support to such clients. The volunteers provide this help under careful guidance and direction from experts who have successfully created teams in other locations in the country.

Our Client Support Team consists of volunteers who provide private consultations, clear information, and emotional support for clients and loved ones. These teams work directly with competent adults at the end of life. Although Massachusetts does not have an Oregon-like aid-in-dying law, our volunteers will be trained to provide a variety of information about end-of-life issues and all legally possible options. Secondary users of services include friends and family members, caregivers and healthcare providers. All services are free of charge.

Compassion & Choices currently manages Client Support Teams in Washington, Oregon, Northern & Southern California, Arizona, Wisconsin, Washington DC area, New York, and the Northeast, Midwest, Southeast and Southwest regions.

The development and training of this team in Boston fills a clear-cut need for services, as Massachusetts is the sixth most active client services state, with more than 100 clients served through the national office during the last six years. Counselors in the national office complete intake interviews with potential clients with subsequent referral to local client service centers. Requests for help are carefully screened to determine eligibility of applicants (clients must be adult and competent to make sound personal healthcare decisions).

This team of Boston volunteers will develop relationships and alliances with local hospices, clinics, providers, and state associations. These relationships are vital to representing client interests and rights in public affairs, legal, and legislative forums.

If you are interested in being considered in the future for training as a volunteer, contact Holly Zalinger (contact us).