Hospice not controversial

The Hospice Foundation of America was pleased to see hospice care mentioned in the Midwest Voices column “In preparing to die, we finally begin living” (7/15, Opinion).

As advocates of hospice care, which provides support to patients and families when a life-limiting illness no longer responds to curative treatments, we encourage people to learn about hospice before a crisis.

It was disconcerting, however, to see hospice care in a list of politically charged health-care issues such as “stem-cell research, abortion (and) right-to-die.”

Hospice care neither prolongs life nor hastens death. Hospice has been a fully covered Medicare benefit for almost 25 years and is covered in most states by private insurance, HMOs and Medicaid. This year more than 1 million people will choose hospice to control pain, receive emotional and spiritual support, and spend their last days surrounded by loved ones.

All of us are “preparing to die,” some more actively than others. To learn more about the myths and facts about hospice care, go to our Web site, www.hospicefoundation.org

David Abrams
CEO, Hospice Foundation of America
Miami