Canadian Physicians for Life - Palliative Care Discussion Board

May 2000  -  Testimony at recent Senate Subcommittee hearings to update " Of Life and Death " confirmed the urgent need for improved end-of-life care in Canada.    This bulletin board is intended to promote discussion, and especially to seek solutions and input for effective legislation, on the topic of palliative care.

Palliative care is aimed at the relief of suffering and improving the quality of life for persons who are living with or dying from advanced illness or are bereaved. It affirms life and regards dying as a normal process. It neither hastens nor postpones death. It provides relief from pain and other distressing symptoms. It integrates the psychological and spiritual aspects of patient care. It offers a support system to help patients live as actively as possible until death. It offers a support system to help the family cope during the patient's illness and their own bereavement.   Canadian Palliative Care Association.

It is my vision to have a Hospice volunteer and a Physician well trained in Palliative care at every deathbed.
Dr. H. Robert C. Pankratz, Abbotsford, BC - President, Canadian Physicians for Life     
COMPLETE STATEMENT

In addition to pulling end-of-life care together as a single concept, we need to move beyond understanding to some improvement strategies...
Dr. Peter Singer, Toronto, ON - University of Toronto Centre for Bioethics   
COMPLETE STATEMENT

Some suggest that we need to propose "pro-active" legislation in order to establish access to quality Palliative Care as a standard part of basic medical care.
Margaret Cottle, MD - Vancouver, BC palliative care physician   
COMPLETE STATEMENT

Research with and for dying persons can and should be done. Otherwise, we will never know how to improve the care of the dying and their families...  
Raymond Viola, MD, MSc, CCFP- Acting Director, University of Ottawa Institute of Palliative Care COMPLETE STATEMENT

End-of-life care issues, even the most seemingly difficult of issues, can be studied and addressed in an objective fashion.. What is lacking in the area of research, and what very much needs to be moved into, is the whole area of interventional research.
Dr. Harvey Chochinov, Department of Psychiatry, University of Manitoba 
COMPLETE STATEMENT

The Senate Committee Report to update "Of Life and Death" (June 2000) "Quality End-of-life Care:  The Right of Every Canadian" on palliative care clearly outlines the need for better care, education and research. 
Dr. Romayne Gallagher, Department of Family Medicine, University of British Columbia