This month’s support meeting will begin with a presentation by the Division of Public Health’s new medical director, Dr. Daniel Lamar.
Lamar is a certified internal physician who has practiced medicine in the CNMI in both the private and public sectors since 1993.
His new role as medical director involves overseeing the CNMI’s public health programs, including those related to the screening, prevention, and control of cancer and other chronic, non-communicable diseases.
Lamar will be providing an overview of his plans for these programs, and updates on the development of the CNMI’s new healthcare corporation.
His presentation will be followed by break-out discussions in two groups: survivors and caregivers.
For more information or to RSVP, contact the Commonwealth Cancer Association at 682-0050 or email cca@ccamarianas.org , or call the Comprehensive Cancer Control Program at 236-8728.
The following information was presented at last month’s support meeting, which began with a discussion on palliative care:
• Link to Public Law 17-35, the Medical Consent Act, which recognizes the right of adults to make decisions as to their own medical care, including the right to withhold or withdraw life-sustaining treatment and was signed into law last March. Visit http://www.cnmilaw.org/pdf/public_laws/17/pl17-35.pdf
• Link to Aging with Dignity, a national nonprofit organization that aims to “affirm and safeguard the human dignity of individuals as they age and to promote better care for those near the end of life”. The website includes information about advance healthcare directives, also known as living wills. Visit www.agingwithdignity.org.
Many thanks to Joanne Ogo, program manager for the Comprehensive Cancer Control Program, for her presentation.
