Dissemination of Council of Europe Recommendations.
A powerful tool for information and lobbying!
The Recommendations have been translated into 17 languages and a source for information and discussions on palliative care in several European countries during the last month. Many of the translations
have been made possible with quite an amount of personal efforts!
In Hungary, Poland and Sweden press conferences were held on October 11. Media representatives were invited and many responded to the calls. The
activities have led to radio, TV and newspaper interviews and reports. In Poland the Minister of Health was present at the press conference as well as a representative from the Council of Europe
who also attended. In Sweden the Health Minister has also been personally informed about the Recommendations. This was a good opportunity to get in touch and discuss palliative care on a national
level. We know that there have been palliative care conferences in Croatia and in Serbia in October and the Recommendations have been in focus also there. We know of plans to write reports in national
medical journals. There are still great opportunities to use the Recommendations in all the countries of Europe, we have just started, particularly in those where a blot of personal effort have
made translations available.
There are some pictures from the media activities in Sweden and Hungary. Have a look on the web site www.eapceast.org
I know there have been activities and that there are plans for activities in other countries and please let us hear from you what has been
achieved and what your plans are. Our plan is to present our joint efforts with the dissemination of the Council of Europe Recommendations in Aachen, Germany April 2005, where the next EAPC conference
will take place.
Fact sheet on fears and facts on cancer pain - for free
The American Alliance of Cancer Pain Initiatives (AACPI) has produced the 2nd edition of this pamphlet for public education. The contents
of this pamphlet list common myths and misconceptions about cancer pain and its relief, and give the correct facts.
http://wiscinfo.doit.wisc.edu/trc/items.asp?itemID=16
Second Global Summit for Hospice and Palliative Care National Associations
The second National Associations‘ Meeting will be held on March 15-16 2005 in Seoul, Korea. This follows the successful first meeting of
representatives from hospice and palliative care umbrella bodies or National Associations held at The Hague in March 2003, where issues of concern to these organisations were discussed and workgroups
were set up to take the work forward. The 2nd Global Summit will be a pre-conference meeting before the 6th Asia Pacific Hospice Conference on 16 – 19 March 2005 – see http://www.aphc2005.org.
Please put this date in your diary and book your place! We are expecting costs to be for hotels only – estimated to be £50 for the night (although you may want to stay longer for the
Asia Pacific Conference.) Please contact Louise Gray to book your place [email protected] There will be some travel and cost support
bursaries for delegates from resource poor countries
If you would like to be part of working groups or keep up to date with their work contact: Nick Pahl, Tel: + (44) (0) 20 7520 8236 [email protected]
A comment in International Journal of Palliative Nursing
Palliative Care for children in the Republic of Belarus is the name of the comment by John Costello and Anna Gorchakova. It was published
in International Journal of Palliative Nursing, 2004, Vol 10, No 4.
Anna Gorchakova also received the the Earl A. Grollman Award for Bereavement 2003, for her work in establishing bereavement programs through the
Belarussian Children's Republican Oncology and Hematology Centre and Belarussian Children's Hospice. Some of the programs run by these organizations include monthly meetings with parents who have
lost a child, a “Summer Camp” psychotherapeutic program, and the “Stand of Memory,” located in the chapel of the hospice. Anna Gorchakova has been the Director of the Belarussian
Children's Hospice, the country's first, since 1994.
New publications on ethics
Ethical eye – Euthanasia, Volume 1 – Ethical and human
aspects (2003)
In our societies, the voices which insist that everyone must have the right to die with dignity are growing steadily louder, but euthanasia still raises numerous questions and remains highly controversial.
Is it a crime or an ultimate form of care? Can one person help another to die? And what about palliative care? What criteria should govern decisions to terminate or prolong life? Does euthanasia
violate the European Convention on Human Rights? The book deals in particular with the definition of the word euthanasia; death and the significance of euthanasia ; palliative care and the refusal
to prolong life through medical progress; respect for human life versus the right to die with dignity; the right to life; the point of view of religions as well as the Council of Europe’s
position. In a second part it treats the situation of euthanasia in some European countries and in the States, underlining the main tendencies of national legislations.
Format A5, 200 pages – ISBN 92-871-5070-2 Price : £15 / US $23
Ethical eye: Euthanasia - Volume II, national and European perspectives (2004)
In most Council of Europe member states, active euthanasia is illegal, as is assisting suicide. Now that two countries, the Netherlands followed by Belgium, have decided to amend their legislation
to enable doctors to bring a person's life to an end and if certain conditions are fulfilled, questions are being asked in other European countries about the advisability of making such acts lawful.
Today, the subject gives rise to lively debate both in professional circles and among members of the public. After a first volume which analyzed the various ethical and human aspects of the euthanasia
debate, this second volume takes a detailed look at the practical and legal situation in eight European countries and the United States, as well as taking stock of the discussions taking place throughout
Europe on various aspects of the end of life.
Format A5, 250 pages - ISBN 92-871-5200-4 Price: £ 15 / US$ 23
Available from: Council of Europe Publishing France, 67075 Strasbourg Cedex
E-mail : [email protected] Fax : +33 (0)3 88 41 27 80
Web site: http://book.coe.int
We are very interested to get information about activities past, present and coming to spread them for you all to get inspiration and good ideas. So
many good thing are happening - we are looking forward to be able to share them.
As always - Looking forward to hear from you!
Sylvia Sauter Carl Johan Fürst
