Compassion & Choices
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Compassion & Choices is an educational and advocatory organization for choice of one's time to die and care at the end of life. It was known as the Hemlock Society until 2004, and was formed by the unification of the organizations Compassion In Dying, and End-of-Life Choices.
As the oldest and largest choice-in-dying organization in America, Compassion & Choices has more than 25 years of experience in advocacy and service. The non-profit organization works for improved care and expanded options at the end of life, with effective care for every dying person. They support comprehensive pain management and palliative care, and legal aid in dying if suffering is unbearable.
The client support program serves individuals, families and others who may be facing the end of life or planning ahead. These services include: support and counsel to anyone who contacts them; local referrals to pain specialists, hospice programs, social service agencies, disease-specific support groups and others are available; assistance in completing living will / advance directive and in talking to families, friends and health care providers about health care wishes; advocacy for people in nursing homes or who are receiving inadequate care
Compassion & Choices provides information, counsel and support to individuals facing the end of life. Patients and their families can call for information about pain management, hospice care, and suggest ways they can address concerns with their doctor. For those who are terminally ill, staff may discuss safe, effective methods for hastening death as an option of last resort.
Compassion & Choices pursues legal and legislative reform at local, state, and federal levels to ensure a patient's right to a peaceful death, including implementation and enforcement of advance directives, pain management, and legalization of aid in dying.
