Compassion & Choices Massachusetts

ABOUT COMPASSION & CHOICES MASSACHUSETTS

Compassion & Choices of Massachusetts is an affiliate of Compassion & Choices, the nation’s largest and oldest non-profit organization working to improve care and expand choice at the end-of-life. With over nine active campaign states, 30 local groups and 40,000 members and supporters throughout the United States, Compassion & Choices leads the Death with Dignity movement. Compassion & Choices creates an atmosphere free from judgment where everyone can talk about, and come to terms with, the difficult issues surrounding death and dying.

WE SUPPORT.

Compassion & Choices’ Massachuestts End-of-Life Resource Center uses the power of choice and comfort to restore hope to individuals and their loved ones at the end-of-life. Our professional staff and trained volunteers help thousands of clients each year by listening without judgment to their fears and guiding their search for a peaceful, humane death. We help clients with advance directives, local service referrals and pain and symptom management. We offer information on self-determined dying when appropriate and provide emotional support through a difficult time. Call 800.247.7421 to speak with a resource counselor today, this is a free service.

WE EDUCATE.

Compassion & Choices Massachusetts promotes informed end-of-life decision making by educating the public and advising health care professionals. Too many health care professionals turn away from their dying patients. Too many Massachusetts residents are unprepared to navigate the complex options and restrictions surrounding the end-of-life. We employ educational training programs, media outreach and online and print publications to change healthcare practice, inform policy-makers, influence public opinion and empower individuals.

WE ADVOCATE.

Compassion & Choices Massachusetts devotes itself to creative grassroots and legislative initiatives to secure comprehensive and compassionate options at the end-of-life. We advocate for statewide standards surrounding end-of-life care and assert constitutional protection for aid-in-dying. Our team of field staff and legislative experts fights bills that would force patients to endure futile, invasive treatment; sets enforceability standards for advance directives; mandates pain and palliative care training for physicians; monitors legislative and policy initiatives; and ultimately shapes best-practice standards for end-of-life care.