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Coalition’s First Policy Summit a Success 2005 Missouri End-of-Life Coalition’s Policy Summit Report 135 policy makers, elected officials, health care providers and consumers gathered in Jefferson City on October 6 for a day long discussion about Missouri’s statutes and policies on advance directives, living wills, family and caregiver issues related to end of life, access to quality end-of-life care and effective pain management, and the expectation gap between the medical community and consumers. Jonathan Keyserling, VP of Public Policy Analysis and Strategy, National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, facilitated the day-long event. Charles Sabatino, Director, Commission on Law and Aging, American Bar Association, outlined the current state of national affairs on end-of-life policies. Coalition Chair, Debra Oliver, PhD, provided a “state of the state” perspective related to care for patients at the end of life as well as progress made to improve pain policies in the state. Coalition member Steven Zweig, MD, addressed the medical perspective, identifying family and provider concerns and frustrations.
Policymakers and elected officials played an active role in the summit. Attorney General Jay Nixon and Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder both addressed the Summit attendees sharing their perspectives on their statutory responsibilities with regards to end of life planning and care. A panel of members from the Missouri General Assembly related personal stories regarding their own end of life experience with friends and loved ones and articulated their legislative priorities and concerns on the matter.
At the Summit, the Coalition recognized Joe Whisler, Past-President of the Missouri Bar Association, for his work in raising awareness regarding advance health care directives and improving access to advance care planning materials. Attorney General Jay Nixon was formally recognized for his collaboration with the Coalition in producing Life Choices, an advance care planning and end of life education booklet which the AG’s office has made available to tens of thousands of Missourians. Below are links to the extensive media news coverage the Summit received: |
