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SCHENECTADY
End-of-life care changing in N.Y. New law requires doctors to offer counseling
BY SARA FOSS Gazette Reporter

    When Dr. George Giokas was in medical school, he received no training in how to tell patients they were dying.
    “Many years ago, I felt uncomfortable talking to patients,” Giokas said. “As a doctor, you never want to take away a patient’s hope.” But in the years since, he has learned that “these conversations don’t destroy hope.” Instead, they can help patients live out their final days in dignity and comfort.
    Today Giokas leads the palliative care consultation service that was launched last year at Ellis Hospital. The service is a collaboration between Ellis and The Community Hospice, which serves the Capital Region, and Giokas’ team includes a nurse, social worker and pastoral care staff. Together, they attempt to determine what the patient understands about their illness, fi gure out what’s important to the patient, develop the best plan of care and set goals.
    More New York patients will soon begin receiving similar care at the end-of-life, or at least learning about it.
    Earlier this month Gov. David Paterson signed the New York Palliative Care Information Act, which requires physicians to offer patients diagnosed with a terminal illness or their representatives information and counseling on the available options for palliative and end-of-life care.
    Under the law, this requirement can be fulfilled by the physician, or by referral or transfer to another health care practitioner. Information and counseling will not be provided to patients who do not want it. ...................>>>>...................>>>>....................http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r01101&AppName=1

I couldn't even begin to touch this........we reap what we sow......ya'll better have a living will in place and person with the balls to carry it out....

MAKE LIVING WILLS HAVE LEGAL BALLS IN NYS......

GET THE GOVERNMENT THE HELL OUT OF MY BUSINESS........

this is the 'loop-hole' for the politicos when the $$ weight gets to be too much and the taxpayers cant take it........