Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 96 Part 1.djvu/137

 PUBLIC LAW 97-182—MAY 24, 1982

96 STAT. 95

Public Law 97-182 97th Congress Joint Resolution To designate the week of November 7, 1982, through November 14, 1982, as "National Hospice Week".

May 24, 1982 [S.J. Res. 170]

Whereas hospice care provided in the United States has demonstrated that it is possible for people who are nearing the end of life to have appropriate, competent, and compassionate care; Whereas providers of hospice care are interdisciplinary teams of physicians, nurses, social workers, pharmacists, physical and occupational therapists, psychological and spiritual counselors, and other trained community volunteers; Whereas hospice services are provided by volunteer teams on an unintermittent basis, tailored to the needs of each individual patient and patient family; Whereas the hospice care concept has not had the national recognition necessary to cause general public awareness of an alternate care system for the terminally ill; Whereas lack of national recognition has caused many hundreds of patients and patient families to suffer unnecessary physical, emotional, and spiritual pain and grief attendant on terminal illness; and Whereas hospice care is a realistic alternative to unnecessary suffering that allows terminally ill patients and their families the opportunity to live and die in peace and comfort in an environment of personal individuality and integrity: Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the week of National November 7, 1982, through November 14, 1982, is designated as Hospice Week. "National Hospice Week" and the President of the United States is authorized and requested to issue a proclamation calling upon all government agencies, the medical community, appropriate private

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