Our Mission
Project GRACE is established through a partnership of physicians,
elder care providers and concerned citizens of Florida dedicated to
changing the death-defying, technology-driven approach to
end-of-life care to a holistic, compassionate one that respects
human dignity and the individual's best interests and personal
wishes.
"To die well is the height of wisdom of life." - Soren Kierkegaard (1813-1855)
Our Objectives
Medical Education
A medical scenario-specific Advance Care Plan Document
Broad dissemination of the Advance Care Plan Document
Collaboration with elder care organizations for outreach and education regarding end-of-life issues
Establishment of a central Internet-based registry for the Advance Care Plan Document, easily accessed by the medical community
Dissemination of guidelines regarding medical futility and Do Not Attempt Resuscitation (DNAR) orders to the medical community
Education of healthcare professionals and the public about palliative care, proper utilization of hospice care and other end-of-life options
Development of a uniform medical school curriculum for end-of-life care, to be implemented state and nationwide
"Everyone can master a grief but he who has it." - Shakespeare
Our Vision
The purpose of Project GRACE is to enlighten and inform the public
and medical profession, first in Florida and ultimately nationwide,
of the importance of end-of-life planning.
The project has been and continues to be complementary to the goals
of the Governor-appointed State of Florida End-of-Life Panel,
chaired by Robert Brooks, MD, Secretary of Health for the State of
Florida.
Recent research has highlighted multiple problems with the
utilization of advance directives currently in use. These include
an absence of medically specific direction, lack of training for
health care providers and traditionally, physicians were not
required to honor patients' expressed choices. This has changed
with new legislation that went into effect October 1, 1999. It is
now mandatory for physicians to honor Advance Care Plan
documents.
Project GRACE has developed and tested an Advance Care Plan
Document designed to allow a person to be specific in their choices
to cover common end-of-life scenarios that most concern citizens.
The Advance Care Plan Document also conforms to Florida Law and is
designed to be legally binding to physicians.
"The immortal gods alone have neither age nor death. All other
things almighty Time disquiets."
- Sophocles.