Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, February 28, 1993 TAG: 9302260027
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-4 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
HOSPICE CARE A CHOICE FOR THE TERMINALLY ILL
The frenzy of recent suicide deaths assisted by the so-called suicide doctor, Jack Kevorkian, prompts this letter. As I write, Dr. Kevorkian has been involved in three such deaths in five days. Each death has been accompanied by widespread coverage in the media.The danger in this saturation of media attention is that it may give terminally ill people the impression that Dr. Kevorkian's way is the only alternative to futile, expensive and often painful medical care. This is absolutely wrong.
For terminally ill patients and their families, there is another choice - hospice care. It is a form of care for the terminally ill that enables them to live as fully and as pain-free as possible before they die, allowing them to spend their last days in dignity, making peace with themselves and their loved ones.
Hospice treats all the needs of such patients through a team that includes physicians, nurses, social workers, counselors, therapists, clergy, aides and volunteers. Usually, the patient can remain at home cared for by a relative or close friend. Hospice also tends to the needs of the patient's family. The team advises them how to handle the many practical and emotional problems involved and remains involved through bereavement counseling and group support for at least one year following the death of the patient.
Hospice is becoming increasingly known and widely used. Last year, for example, almost 100 terminally ill people received hospice care in the New River Valley. Nationwide, the total was over 210,000 patients. Hospice has become so accepted that Medicare and Medicaid cover 100 percent of the services, and most insurance plans contain some form of hospice coverage.
Unlike Dr. Kevorkian, hospice operates openly. Ours is a community-based organization that opens its arms to everyone regardless of diagnosis or ability to pay for services. For further information about our program, call 552-8077 or (800) 834-9281, or write us at 1806 Prices Fork Road, Blacksburg 24060.
Although we limit our services to terminally ill patients, experience has taught us that the earlier hospice enters a case, the more effective our help can be. For this reason, and because it is good personal planning, we invite all inquires - even those where there may be no immediate need for hospice.
It is not our place, nor is it our intention, to pass judgment on Dr. Kevorkian or on the people whose desperation drove them to seek his services. But, those who think his way is the only way should be advised they are wrong. \ Judith Brack\ Executive director New River Valley Hospice\ Blacksburg