CURRAN HOSTS NATIONAL EFFORT
TO IMPROVE END-OF-LIFE CARE

Attorney General J. Joseph Curran, Jr., announced today that the National Association of Attorneys General will hold its third and final event aimed at improving end-of-life care at the Wyndham Baltimore Inner Harbor Hotel, 101 W. Fayette Street, Friday May 16 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The event is open to the press and will feature discussions on the problems facing consumers in obtaining quality care in the final stages of life. Speakers include Chris Cruzan White, sister of Nancy Cruzan, as well as national experts on hospice care and pain management.

NAAG president Drew Edmondson, Attorney General of Oklahoma, has made this issue the focal point of his current term, while Attorney General Curran is considered nationally to be a leader in advocating improvements in the area of end of life care. For 15 years, AG Curran has issued legal guidance, pushed for legislative reforms, and been involved in educational efforts to improve care. In 2001, he launched a first-of-its-kind study of the legal and policy issues related to Alzheimer’s disease. Additionally, the Attorney General has written numerous articles and policy papers on the issue for local, state and national publications.

"The fact is people are living longer than ever and, while that is great news for many, it has created a whole new set of legal, medical and ethical issues that need to be addressed," Attorney General Curran said. "I am proud of my Office’s work to define and address such questions and am hopeful that this event will help us to raise the profile of this very important issue and better define the role of an Attorney General in the effort to improve care."

This event is the third in a series: the first event was held in September 2002 in Overland Park, Kansas and the second in February 2003 in San Diego, CA.

MEDIA NOTE:
Dr. Anita Tarzian, a nurse who cares for dying patients and a Ph.D. ethicist who consults with nursing homes and does training for ethics committees, will be at the conference and available to participate in tv/radio interviews.

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