If a critical care nurse will be given a chance to be heard for the Senate Bill 586 Palliative and

End of Life Care to be passed, and you would be that nurse, would you be in the proposition
(affirmative) or opposition (negative) side? With the chosen side, present your argument and
ensure to cite valid and credible sources to further strengthen your argument.

I would be on the affirmative side. Because in my personal opinion, I think that patients

who are suffering unnecessarily should be able to have a choice, whether they want to cease their

suffering, rather than having to endure their pain until their inevitable demise.

I believe that palliative and end-of-life care is a vital service that can improve the quality

of life of patients with life-threatening illnesses and their families. Palliative and end-of-life care

is a holistic approach that addresses the physical, emotional, psychosocial and spiritual needs of

patients and their caregivers. It aims to relieve pain and suffering, provide comfort and dignity,

and support the patient's autonomy and preferences. Palliative and end-of-life care can be

provided in various settings, such as hospitals, hospices, community-based units and home care.

According to the Senate Bill 586 Palliative and End of Life Care Act of 2010, the proposed law

seeks to establish palliative and end-of-life care as part of the national health system, allocate

funds for its implementation, create a Palliative Care Trust Fund for indigent patients, provide

care leave benefits for family caregivers, and promote research and education on palliative and

end-of-life care. The bill also defines the roles and responsibilities of the Department of Health,

local government units, health facilities, health professionals and other stakeholders in providing

palliative and end-of-life care. I support this bill because I think it will benefit not only the

patients but also the health system and the society. Palliative and end-of-life care can reduce

unnecessary hospitalizations, lower health care costs, enhance patient satisfaction, improve

caregiver well-being, and foster a culture of compassion and respect for human dignity. Palliative

and end-of-life care can also help address the ethical dilemmas and challenges that arise in caring
for patients with life-threatening illnesses, such as withholding or withdrawing life-sustaining

treatments, managing futile interventions, respecting advance directives, and providing

euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide.

Therefore, I urge the lawmakers to pass the Senate Bill 586 Palliative and End of Life

Care Act of 2010 as soon as possible. I think that this bill will make a positive difference in the

lives of many Filipinos who are facing life-threatening illnesses. I hope that this bill will also

inspire more health professionals to pursue palliative and end-of-life care as a specialty or as part

of their practice.
 Reference

15th Congress - Senate Bill No. 586 - Senate of the Philippines. (n.d.). Legacy.senate.gov.ph.

https://legacy.senate.gov.ph/lis/bill_res.aspx?congress=15&q=SBN-586

National Institute on Aging. (2022). Providing Care and Comfort at the End of Life. National

Institute on Aging. https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/providing-comfort-end-life

NHS. (2018, June 20). End of Life Care. NHS.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/end-of-life-care/what-it-involves-and-when-it-starts/