[afro-nets] Palliative care: a basic human right (5)

[Peter Sarver <psarver234@yahoo.com>]

Palliative care: a basic human right (5)
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Palliative Care Should be a Human Right

Thanks to Tom Barker for calling our attention to the issue of
the need to expand palliative care for those suffering unneces-
sarily at the end of life, particularly in resource poor coun-
tries. While curative or life prolonging medical regimes should
be a human right as well, palliative care is a question of basic
human dignity for dying persons. It is indeed ironic that the
simple and inexpensive "tools" of palliative care are seen as
somehow competing with other worthy human needs. Our humanity is
diminished when we can not deal with our death denial and pro-
vide for basic pain relief and emotional care for all involved.

Peter Sarver
Palliative Care International
Syracuse, NY, USA
mailto:psarver234@yahoo.com