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Diana Barnard MD and Jaina Clough MD spoke to a standing-room-only crowd on the topic of “Act 39, MAID in Vermont: A Clinician Update” at UVM Medical Center’s Davis Auditorium on February 28. 2020.  Nearly 200 physicians and other medical staff from the UVM Health Network arrived to hear their two colleagues present “Grand Rounds.”
Dr. Barnard and Dr. Clough reviewed national trends, state data, and practical clinical information on the topic of medical-aid-in-dying (MAID), including evolving drug protocols and available pharmacies. The current number of people in Vermont who have requested and qualified for the terminal prescription since 2013 when Act 39 became law, is 87. The majority of those individuals suffered from cancer. Dr. Barnard, who attended the first ever National Clinicians’ Conference on MAID in California in February, reported on the clinical experience and research on medications occurring across the country. The conference concluded by moving forward with the establishment of the "National Academy of MAID," which will work to promote excellence in end-of-life care including promoting education and collaboration around MAID. While it is not yet fully formalized, Dr. Barnard will serve on what will most likely be called the Academy's Development and Advisory Committee. Dr. Clough recognized local authors Kara K Landry MD, Janet Ely APRN, and Alissa Thomas MD for publication of their article, “Experience and Attitudes Regarding Medical Aid in Dying, Act 39, Among Vermont Specialty Practices”. The article appeared in the Journal of Palliative Medicine, October 2019 and substantiated the position that MDs want more information on the topic. Following their presentation of factual information, the duo turned their attention to how physicians respond to patient requests for MAID and role-played various scenarios for the appreciative audience. The number of questions and comments generated by this activity suggests that physicians consider MAID a topic worthy of ongoing discussion and learning. While no physician is required to participate in Act 39, it is comforting to know that facts and understanding will inform that decision. The number of medical professionals attending represents a big increase from previous workshops, signaling improvement in future access to knowledgeable doctors for patients seeking to explore medical aid in dying. Dr. Clough, is board certified in both Internal Medicine, and as a Hospice Medical Director. Dr. Barnard is a Family Practice doctor, board certified in both Hospice and Palliative Care, and also as a Hospice Medical Director.
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We are pleased to share information with Vermonters in the Montpelier region at a free educational discussion about medical aid in dying co-hosted with Capital City Grange. Betsy Walkerman, President of Patient Choices Vermont will present "Your Options, Your Autonomy at End of Life" from 5 - 6 PM on Saturday, February 1. Please join us at this informative opportunity.  Learn, Ask questions, and Share Stories
 “Medical Aid in Dying; The story of one man’s choice” Jan 28 at UVM’s Medical Education Pavilion12/27/2019 Learn about Medical Aid in Dying (MAID) at a panel discussion at 5 PM on Tuesday, January 28 at the University of Vermont’s Medical Education Pavilion, Larner Classroom, Room 100. 
 Join us in Castleton, Vermont on December 3  Healthy Democracy: Act 39, Proposition 5, and “Tenth Power” Political Activism
Tuesday, December 3, 2019 from 2 - 4 PM DISCUSSION TOPICS: Act 39 – Death with Dignity and Medical Assistance in Dying Proposition 5 - “an individual’s right to personal reproductive autonomy is central to the liberty and dignity to determine one’s own life course.” PANELISTS: Betsy Walkerman, President of Patient Choices Vermont Lucy Leriche, Vice President of Public Policy Vermont, Planned Parenthood Northern New England Stephen Kiernan, Author/Journalist, Health Care Advocate. MODERATOR: Lt. Governor, David Zuckerman LOCATION: Hoff Hall Conference Room is located at Castleton University, 360 South Street in,Castleton, Vermont. CONTACT: Professor Joe Markowski with any questions jdm09200@csc.vsc.edu 802.353.6805  We are pleased to help publicize this upcoming event hosted by The Northeast Kingdom Palliative Care Initiative.
PCV board member Dr. Diana Barnard and Peggy Stevens, who is featured in PCV videos, will be among the speakers. Date: Friday, Sept. 13 from 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM Location: Eastside Restaurant , 47 Landing Street on the shore of Lake Memphremagog in Newport, Vermont Featuring:
This seminar will explore the physical, emotional, and spiritual suffering that may accompany the end-of-life journey and choices that patients might pursue to end this suffering. Come prepared to learn about how to listen and how to respond to requests to hasten death – What is the dying person really asking? What are the ethical and legal options to stopping treatment or nutrition? This seminar is appropriate for healthcare professionals of all disciplines and of all levels, as well as educators, social workers, clergy members, interested community persons, and anyone involved personally or professionally with the care of the seriously ill. Registration required by Monday, September 9, 2019 (click above for a brochure with mail-in registration form PDF) or send a check for $15 (includes lunch) made payable to Northeast Kingdom Palliative Care Initiative, Inc. and mail to: Lyne Limoges, MSN, RN Orleans Essex VNA & Hospice 46 Lakemont Road Newport, VT 05855 Please include the following information with your registration: Name: Profession: Agency /Organization: Address: Telephone:  Patient Choices Vermont (PCV) will be among the exhibitors at Age Well's Senior Day on Tuesday, August 27. We encourage you to visit with us on this special day of the annual Champlain Valley Fair, an event which typically welcomes more than 300 Vermont seniors to enjoy a luncheon (now sold out), live music, and all-day access to the fairgrounds. Adults age 50 or older will save $3 off their admission ticket with I.D. at the gate – Valid only on Senior Day. We look forward to talking with visitors who stop by our onsite exhibitor's booth where we will also provide a collection of PCV's valuable printed resource materials on end-of-life options and Vermont's Act 39. The event is located in the beer tent within the fair grounds. The Champlain Valley Fair lists the beer tent as #5 on the official map, not too far from the Red Gate.  Hosted by Wishbone Collective and Patient Choices Vermont UVM's 3rd Annual Public Philosophy Week was first launched in 2017 to bring discussions out of the academy and into the public square. New in 2019, is a series of seven discussions on death and coping with grief, organized by UVM alumnus Alexandria Kerrigan, a recent graduate of the university's End-of-Life Doula Program.
The Death Talk Philosophy Week series begins on Sunday, March 24 at 2 pm with Krista Beth Atwood, former pastor of the Faith United Methodist Church in South Burlington, leading off with "Is there Life Without Death?" There are seven daily events at various times, covering a diversity of death topics featuring different speakers including Betsy Walkerman, president of Patient Choices Vermont, on Tuesday, March 26 from 6-7 pm leading a discussion on "ACT 39 and Death with Dignity." Join us for seven days of Death Talks during Public Philosophy Week at the Wishbone Collective!
Death Talks provide a safe place for open dialogue and the philosophical exploration of themes such as mortality, the afterlife, spirituality, cultural practices, history, individual experience, and more. Death Talks is not a personal support group nor a counseling session.
Wishbone Collective is located at: 4 West Center Street, Winooski, Vermont Monday, March 25, 2019
Hilton Hotel, Burlington, Vermont The Gerontology Symposium is a conference designed to enable participants to gain knowledge pertaining to a key areas of caregiving for older adults: End of Life Care and Transitions. The symposium also seeks to strengthen the connections between family caregivers and professionals. This year, topics will include:
What Really Matters: 7 Lessons for Living from the Stories of the Dying The Center on Aging at The University of Vermont is pleased to present this program whose goal is to provide current, research-based information on topics relevant to both family and professional caregivers who work with our rapidly growing population of older adults. For the second year, the conference will offer two different tracks:
Registration Fees Professionals: $35 Family Caregivers: $20 (discounted registration is intended for those caring for family members) Continuing Education credit: add $20 Click for more information and to register...  The idea of bringing people together to talk about death was originated by Swiss sociologist and anthropologist Bernard Crettaz who organized the first Café Mortel in 2004. The idea spawned an international Death Cafe movement with more than 6,000 hosted so far by various organizations around the world.
Here in Vermont, the movement to socially de-stigmatize talk about death and dying is well underway, with many events over the past few years. In August 2018, Alexandria Kerrigan, a recent graduate of the University of Vermont's End-of-Life Doula Program, launched the first Winooski Vermont Death Café and has hosted six monthly events since, renaming the concept as Death Talks last December. Death Talks provide a safe place for open dialogue and the philosophical exploration of themes such as mortality, the afterlife, spirituality, cultural practices, history, individual experience, and more. Death Talks is not a personal support group nor a counseling session. On Wednesday, January 23 from 6-8 pm, Betsy Walkerman and Francesca Arnoldy of Patient Choices VT will present a session regarding Vermont's Medical Aid in Dying Law (Act 39).
Alexandria Kerrigan holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education and is pursuing a masters in social work. She has been interested and comfortable with the topic of death since childhood and has extensive personal experience with grief and loss. The Wishbone Collective hosts and sponsors monthly Death Talks in alignment with their mission to create a unique community space for all. RSVPs are not necessary but you can do so while sharing the event with friends at the Facebook event Page: Death Talks featuring Patient Choices Vermont: Act 39 Seminar. Thanks for considering attending this community outreach event, A Finished Heart by Eliot Cherry PCV sponsored the presentation of an intimate one-act theater production as part of the recognition of the five-year anniversary of Vermont’s End of Life Choice Law (Act 39). We brought author, composer, and actor, Eliott Cherry here from Oregon to present his deeply personal story of love, life, and dying. The three, hour-long performance, staged from May 17-19, 2018 brought audience members in touch with the universal experience of dying, amid humor and loving conversations at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Norwich, at the Shelburne Town Hall, and at Chandler Center for the Arts in Randolph. Eliott's performances prompted conversations about care giving, personal choices, and fundamental human connections. Each performance was followed by a discussion session, and PCV provided information about Vermont’s End of Life Choice Law (Act 39). |
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