DYING
Auto Channel -- Robert Gordon, Co-Publisher Following is information on the hot topic— Finding Our Way: Living with Dying in America national newspaper series by Dan Tobin, MD and his tour Wednesday, October 10, 2001 going from 10-1 p.m. Eastern. Fear and silence have blocked the preparation that would ensure our loved ones and ourselves dignity and pain management near the end-of-life. Our cultural taboo against talking about the end of life even effects doctors. A recent University of Chicago study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine indicates that only a small percentage of doctors honestly tell terminally-ill patients how much time they have left. According to the study, conducted by Drs. Elizabeth Lamont and Nicholas Christakis, only 37 percent of 258 Chicago-area doctors surveyed said they would give dying patients their best estimate of remaining life. Fully 40 percent admitted they would be intentionally inaccurate, adding significant time to the prognosis. The times are changing. The process begins with conversations. This fall, a news-breaking event will be the catalyst to stimulating conversations. Knight Ridder/Tribune Information Services is distributing free of charge to all U.S. newspapers a series called Finding Our Way: Living with Dying in America—fifteen articles by experts on creating a better environment for the dying and those who care for them. Some points he can address are: Among the topics you may want to discuss with Dan Tobin, MD are: §The Finding Our Way newspaper series: what the 15 weeks of articles cover; what he hopes the series will achieve; how the newspaper series fits into the bigger picture of the growing movement to improve end-of-life care in this country §How we can begin to break the cultural taboo that surrounds end-of-life conversations; what questions to ask doctors; what to discuss with family members; how to tell children §What kind of health care you should expect near the end of your life § 10 tips to help you navigate through the end of life (can also be used as talking points and put on full screen or lower thirds) Please call me at your earliest!!! Best, David Sands Account Supervisor On the Scene 323-930-1030Presents a Satellite Media Tour With Dan Tobin, MD It’s Time to Talk About What Nobody Wants to Talk About… Finding Our Way: Living With Dying in America WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2001 10:00AM TO 1:00PM EASTERN There is a new movement in America. We are at the beginning of a culture shift demanded by the seventy-six million baby boomers who are caring for ailing parents and approaching their own old age. They are seeing too much suffering as loved ones struggle with advanced illness and face the end of life. They are convinced it doesn’t have to be like this. They are creating and End-of-Life Movement that provides time to value life while taking control of dying. A series of groundbreaking articles called Finding Our Way: Living with Dying in America will be made available to all U.S. newspapers, free of charge, through Knight Ridder/Tribune Information Services beginning on September 9 and continuing for the next 15 weeks, through December 16. The Finding Our Way series is designed to be another catalyst in the movement—a national initiative to help Americans overcome their fears, re-think the way they live with dying, and find ways to embrace dignity and quality near the end of life. Dr. Tobin will discuss a variety of topics about dealing with dying: § The 3-step process to breaking the silence; when to start talking, how to start talking, and how to get others to talk to you, including doctors, family, the sick person, the elderly § Difficult conversations, such as telling children that you have a life-threatening illness, alerting friends and relatives it’s time to say good-bye to a loved one, talking about unresolved feelings and regrets § How cultural diversity and family heritage affects the way we look at the end of life and how we talk about it § Gender influences on conversation Dan Tobin, MD is Co-Director of the Palliative Care Program at the VA health care Network, Upstate NY at Albany and a national leader in end-of-life care. He is Director for the Center for Advanced Illness Coordinated Care and the principal investigator of the National AICC Program. He is the author of the book titled Peaceful Dying: The Step –By-Step Guide to Preserving Your Dignity, Your Choice and Your Inner Peace at the End-of-Life. To book a window, please contact David Sands at 323-930-1030/dsands@onthescene.com Online Newsroom, Additional Information: http://wrtsun03.wrtech.com/secure/plsql/pr201v2?coin=3204 From: ON THE SCENE PRODUCTIONS, INC. Web Site: http://www.onthescene.com Reply: mailto:dsands@onthescene.com Telephone: 323-930-1030 ------------------------------------------------------------------ Please use Reply button for address updates or other changes. ------------------------------------------------------------------