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Dear friends and patient advocates,
As you know from the previous HPA newsletter emails, the public needs
your help! You are much more informed than the general public and you
know what type of problems may arise in SOME hospices.
Hope Hospice in Southwestern Florida has applied to become licensed as a
funeral home service provider, as well as providing its regular hospice
services.
See:
http://www.bonitanews.com/news/2006/nov/15/hope_hospice_plans_offer_funeral_se
rvices/?print=1
and
http://www.bonitanews.com/news/2006/nov/18/editorial_hospice_services/?opinion
This application is deeply troubling, to those who are concerned about
patient rights, for numerous reasons, as I have already written. The
conflict of interests and the potential for covering up crimes including
medical killings is huge. A huge gap in protections for the public
would open up, allowing for complete destruction of any evidence of
wrongdoing and preventing any meaningful oversight of the industry.
I have just learned that we should also send a copy of our letter or
emails about the issue of hospices becoming licensed as funeral homes to
Mr. Tom Gallagher. A short note in your own words is all that is needed.
Mr. Gallagher has the power (as the State of Florida's Chief Financial
Officer) to independently grant or deny a hospice's application for
licensure as a funeral home. He will be reviewing this issue this
coming Friday, so please send your email to him as soon as possible, and
ask others you know to do so as well!
He can be contacted at:
By email:
Tom.Gallagher@fldfs.com
or
cfo@fldfs.com
or by U.S. mail:
Tom Gallagher, Chief Financial Officer
State of Florida
Department of Financial Services
200 East Gaines Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0300
(850) 413-3100
Those of you who have already sent a letter or email to Diana Evans,
Director of the Division of Funeral, Cemetery & Consumer Services at:
Diana.Evans@fldfs.com
should send a copy of what you sent to Mr. Gallagher as well so he has
time to review your comments.
You can also post your comment online (so the public can learn about the
issues) at Bonita News in Florida:
http://www.bonitanews.com/news/2006/nov/18/editorial_hospice_services/?opinion
Thanks so much for your help!
If people contemplate and really see the sanctity of life, their
"quality of life" arguments fall away and they will understand that we
are here to care for each other, not to kill each other. Caring, and not
convenience, is the sign of a civilized and just society!
Ron Panzer
for Hospice Patients Alliance
http://www.hospicepatients.org
8mm
