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• Improving End-of-Life Care: The Roles of Attorneys General - 2003 Report

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End-of-Life Healthcare

The NAAG End-of-Life Health Care project is now acting as a clearinghouse for the state Attorneys General offices and will be posting updated information on this website.

The project was begun by Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson as his initiative when he was President of the National Association of Attorneys General. His vision has encouraged many Attorneys General offices to become even more actively engaged in helping to improve end-of-life care for the citizens of their states. Attorneys General in each state are charged with protecting constituents in matters affecting the public interest, including consumer protection of those who are dying. The NAAG End-of-Life Health Care Project has focused on three principal areas of concern in which Attorneys General may play a major role:

• Pain management;
• Acknowledgement and respect for the wishes of those who are dying;
• Ensuring competent end-of-life care.

After General Edmondson hosted three listening conferences to learn how Attorneys General offices can best use their resources to improve their citizens’ end of life care, in October 2004, NAAG hosted a one-day training course in Chicago for Attorney General staff. A DVD program was made available to those who could not attend. In addition, technical conference calls have been held with staff members focusing on different issues in the end-of-life health care arena.

The project is fortunate to have the assistance of a distinguished and committed Advisory Committee of national experts, chaired by Myra Christopher, President and CEO of the Center for Practical Bioethics.

Attorneys General have also been actively working to ensure a balance between drug abuse enforcement and ensuring availability of prescription pain medications for those who need them. To this end, Attorneys General Drew Edmondson (Oklahoma); J. Joseph Curran Jr., (Maryland); and William Sorrell (Vermont) met with Drug Enforcement Administrator Karen Tandy to offer the assistance of state Attorneys General in promoting an understanding and commitment to a balanced drug enforcement policy.

NAAG has published two information brochures regarding end of life initiatives in the states, links to which may be found under “Publications.” A number of states have also posted materials and information on their websites. These are listed below by state. There is also a link to various organizations involved in end-of-life issues. Consumers wishing to find forms for health care directives will find resources available either at their state’s attorney general’s website or on one of the websites listed on the “Resources” page.