SUNDAY APRIL 15 2007 

PALLIATIVE  CARE 

MAXIMISING LIFE WITH A TERMINAL CONDITION 

from 6PM - 8:00PM (Melbourne time)

I've been a doctor for almost 25 years and in that time it has been a privilege to have had the opportunity to be involved with some of the happiest as well as hardest and saddest times in people's lives.

One thing that has become very obvious to me over that time is that as a society we have not come to grips with how to deal with dying.  We don't want to talk about it and we rarely consider planning for it until it is thrown up in our face, often later thinking if only I had told them this or we'd talked more about that.

When someone is diagnosed with a medical condition where cure is not an option any longer it is sometimes referred to as a terminal condition. This term conjures up an image of a rubber stamp across the forehead and please step into the waiting room because we've given up on you. In reality nothing could be further from the truth.

Just because the condition cant be cured doesn't mean that there is nothing that can be done and it doesn't mean the person and their family should feel abandoned.

Living with a terminal illness is all about maximising life. Managing symptoms to allow the person and their family to enjoy the time they have left no matter how long that might be. A terminal diagnosis doesn't automatically imply a time frame and whether it is weeks or years there is always something that can be done to help people cope.

While it is important to always have hope, when it is true that a cure is not an option it is important to be able to talk about that. It would be a tragedy to waste the time left by not facing reality. Especially for those family and friends who will  live on. Too often I have seen family members suffer because their loved one with a terminal illness will not entertain the inevitable. Family don't want to mention it in case it makes them sad or angry or worse - give up.  Friends don't know what the right thing to say is or whether to mention it at all.

Like so many sensitive issues in life this one is pushed under the carpet I believe its important to talk openly, Not waiting until its upon us and emotionally charged but at ordinary times, like now, when we can discuss feelings and thoughts when emotions aren't at breaking point.

Palliative Care is a subject that most people don't really understand - until they need it. After all it isnt taught in schools. Trouble is too many people don't even know how it can help them. But almost universally those who do accept Palliative care services comment that they wished they'd known about it sooner

Inspired by some special people and recent events in both my professional and personal life I thought it was time we tackled this issue head on and I need to thank Clark Forbes program director of 3AW for his understanding and support in allowing me to do this program this evening.

Palliative care is about maximising life so let’s talk about it openly

MY GUESTS ON THE PROGRAM 

Prof Margaret O'Connor - President of Palliative Care Australia, Vivian Bullwinkel Chair of Palliative Nursing Monash University. Click  HERE for more info on Margaret 

Dr Odette Spruyt - Head of Pain and Palliative Care Department - Peter MacCallum hospital Melbourne

Roland Rocchiccioli - Playwright, author, media personality but most of all full time carer for his gorgeous mother.    click HERE to visit Roland's website 

Doreen Akkerman - Director, Cancer Information and Support Services The Cancer Council of Victoria

Andrea Murphy - Executive Manager of Family Services at Very Special Kids

Karen - a mum whose daughter died two years ago at VSK

John Bullwinkel - nephew of Vivian Bullwinkel and Patron r of the Vivian Bullwinkel Memorial Fund 

LINKS AND MORE INFO ON PALLIATIVE CARE 

click logo to visit PALLIATIVE CARE AUSTRALIA 

click HERE to visit VIVIAN BULLWINKEL FOUNDATION 

click HERE to see PROF MARGARET O'CONNOR's  RESEARCH  

click HERE to  visit AUSTRALIAN & NZ  SOCIETY of PALLIATIVE CARE MEDICINE  

click logo to visit PETER MACALLUM HOSPITAL 

click logo to visit CANCER COUNCIL VICTORIA HELPLINE  131120

click logo to visit VERY SPECIAL KIDS