Denial .... more than just a river in Egypt!

Today afforded me an opportunity to facilitate a discussion on pain and symptom management for the dying to healthcare professionals at the IHCA/ISHPCO Annual Conference. As we landed on a discussion of the individuals perception of what is important enough to them to want to pursue by putting forth an effort that may be taxing to the point of causing them to sacrifice one activity for another, I came across this picture. This lead to an enlightening discussion on coping skills vs settling. This, then, prompted an exploration of the ADA (Americans With Disabilities Act) which does not include the dying - at least not in a manner timely enough for them to reap the benefits afforded by the ADA to those who have a lifelong disability limiting their access to a variety of places/activities/pusuits.

So rather than taking the militant stance of making certain government provides for the individual regardless the need, the novelty of practicing kindness and manners would cheat the lawyers from yet another boondoggle (like HIPPA).

Practice being nice!