Photo credit: S. Hermann and F. Richter, Pixabay

Message from the Chair and Executive Director Hot off the press! Publication of the Palliative Care and COVID-19 Series Briefing Notes Compilation. Also, a reminder that members can access (and contribute to) the Global Palliative Care Database for free.
From the Editor Luck? Good timing? One heartfelt letter may have improved palliative care in a Canadian long-term care residence.
Policy and Advocacy Dr. Katherine Pettus reports on the end-of-year Commission on Narcotic Drugs session, an organizing meeting for the Western Pacific region, a board member’s video at the UN, and preparations for the 148^th meeting of the WHO Executive Board.
Guest Advocacy column Dr. Chamath Fernando on palliative care training being developed for primary care physicians in Sri Lanka.
IAHPC News & Calendar
- December fundraising results
- GLAD on hold; watch for an update in 2021
- Reader Recommended: 2 must-read books
- New Terms in Pallipedia COVID-19 and telehealth terminology predominate
- New Listings in IAHPC Calendar of Events
Featured Story Julia Downing’s personal reflections on palliative care during COVID-19.
IAHPC Book Reviews
Palliative Care Book of the Month

PHYSICIAN-ASSISTED SUICIDE AND EUTHANASIA: Before, During, and After the Holocaust  Both outstanding and disturbing, the best book I have seen on this topic and the best to have crossed my desk in 2020.

Other Reviews

GLOBAL PALLIATIVE CARE: Reports from the Peripheries 2015-2020  A collection of stories, blogs and reflections advocating for global palliative care.

PALLIATIVE SKILLS FOR FRONTLINE CLINICIANS: Case Vignettes in Everyday Hospital Medicine  A collection of clinical cases, giving both the conventional (do everything) approach and the palliative approach.

NARRATIVE MEDICINE IN HOSPICE CARE: Identity, Practice, and Ethics through the Lens of Paul Ricoeur  A discussion of narrative medicine and meaningful communication in palliative care.

HOSPICE PALLIATIVE HOME CARE AND BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT: Nursing Interventions and Supportive Care  A practical resource for nurses working in hospice palliative care in peoples’ homes and in the community.

CONTEMPORARY EUROPEAN PERSPECTIVES ON THE ETHICS OF END OF LIFE CARE  A collection of essays on the bioethics of end of life care. Some good, some…
Lessons from the Literature
Under My Microscope Duration of palliative care before death comes under IAHPC Research Advisor Dr. Tania Pastrana’s microscope.

Media Watch: Guidelines Barry Ashpole highlights guidelines for triage and GPs, as well as a mixed bag of other articles of note.
Membership Matters
- Who Are They? A breakdown of IAHPC members’ professional fields.
- Member’s Impact: Highlighting notable works by members.
- Members in this newsletter
- New & Renewing Members’ List
List of Donors

Alison Ramsey
Senior Editor

Katherine Pettus
PhD, Advisor

Liliana de Lima
MHA, Executive Director

Danilo Fritzler
Webmaster

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This Holiday Season

Help us to help others: IAHPC's annual fundraiser!

How your gift supports the IAHPC mission

Achieved: $24,941 Goal: $30,000

83%

Education

Your gift funds the operational costs of our online courses taught by globally recognized experts who volunteer their time and provide educational resources relevant to palliative care topics. It also supports scholarships that enable palliative care workers to attend educational events and congresses, and allows us to maintain Pallipedia, the free, live, online dictionary.

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The goal of this pillar is to implement strategies, resources and tools that will improve the competencies of the global workforce for appropriate palliative care delivery. We have two programs under this pillar plus many other resources for our members.

Scholarship Program

Your membership helps us produce, and enables access for those with fewer resources, to the following:

Palliative Care in Neurological Conditions
Comprehensive Basic Pain Assessment and Management
Advanced Pain Assessment and Management
Comprehensive Symptom Assessment and Management
Advocacy for global, regional, and national advocacy for palliative care
Pallipedia: Free, online palliative care dictionary
Special Issue on Assisted Dying Practices by several authors
Some Notes for Physicians Contemplating a Career in Palliative and Person-Centered Care by Eduardo Bruera, MD
Euthanasia and Physician Assisted Suicide: Are they clinically necessary or desirable? by Dr. Roger Woodruff
How to Help our Patients in their Terminal Phase by Wilson Astudillo A. and Carmen Mendinueta A.
Cómo Ayudar a un Enfermo Terminal by Wilson Astudillo A. and Carmen Mendinueta A.
Palliative Care in the Developing World - Principles and Practice by Eduardo Bruera, Liliana De Lima, Roberto Wenk and William Farr

Advocacy

Your gift enables us to build and strengthen the partnerships that accelerate global, regional, and national advocacy for palliative care. We advocate for its integration into primary health care under universal health coverage and effective access to essential palliative care medicines and packages for people of all ages. Your gift supports our work to prepare delegates and participate in technical consultation meetings of the relevant UN organizations.

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The goal this pillar is the integration of palliative care into primary health care within the spectrum of universal coverage to improve access to adequate care for patients in need. We offer the following to our members:

Online Advocacy Course
Mentoring for advocacy to develop palliative care in your country
A chance to join IAHPC delegations to UN and WHO meetings
National association collaboration with IAHPC advocacy initiatives
A chance to apply for the Leadership Development Program (LEAD)

Your membership helps us produce and enables free access to the following resources:

IAHPC Advocacy Policy Briefs
Palliative Care Advocacy Why Does It Matter?
Documents on Human Rights and Access to Medicines and Care

Research

Your gift enables us to continue doing research that provides guidance and recommendations for action, based on responses from the global palliative care community. Such research includes our recent evaluation of the impact of euthanasia and assisted dying practices on palliative care workers and the use of essential medicines for palliative care. It also supports the costs of publications focused on research relevant to palliative care.

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The goal of this pillar is to design and implement projects that lead to the integration of palliative care into health policies, resolutions, and key documents. Our studies help us provide guidance and recommendations, and take action based on the responses from the global palliative care community.

Your membership enables you to participate in IAHPC projects such as the:

Global Palliative Care Database
Consensus-based definition of palliative care
Clinical use of tramadol
Opioid Price Watch
IAHPC List of Essential Practices in Palliative Care in English and Spanish
IAHPC Opioid Essential Prescription Package
IAHPC List of Essential Medicines for Palliative Care (in multiple languages)

Information dissemination

Your gift enables us to continue our in-depth reporting and book reviews in Pallinews, as well as media campaigns that raise awareness about the need to increase access to care and support for patients and families.

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The goal of this pillar is to create and publish positive stories and focused messaging, to support and advance the global palliative care movement.

Your membership allows us to make the following resources available free of charge to the palliative care community:

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2020; Volume 22, No 1, January

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