The year is 1994. Voters in the state of Oregon consider, and subsequently pass, the first assisted suicide legislation in the United States.
Six Catholic health ministries, deeply concerned about this development and its underlying causes, came together to form Supportive Care of the Dying: A Coalition for Compassionate Care. Determined to address the public’s expressed fears of poorly managed pain, unbearable suffering at the end of life and fear of burdening their families, the Coalition began by listening carefully to what people had to say about the effect of failing health on their lives, and particularly about how well or poorly the health care system met their needs. (See Living and Healing During Life-Threatening Illness.)
In the years since, the Coalition has grown to 16 member health ministries, and the work has broadened to encompass a comprehensive and far reaching vision of palliative care. While excellent care in the last weeks and months of life will always be of critical importance, early recognition and intervention to diminish suffering is also a priority. Reflecting this commitment to provide excellent palliative care as early in the diagnosis of a life-threatening illness as possible, the Coalition changed its name in 2006 to Supportive Care Coaltion: Pursuing Excellence in Palliative Care.
Because the Coalition’s member organizations include some of the nation’s largest Catholic health systems and operate health facilities in 48 states, the Coalition is in a unique position to influence and extend palliative care programs in this country. The Coalition's work has focused upon developing palliative care programs within its member facilities, educating health care professionals, and providing tools, resources, information and inspiration to health providers so that they may carry out the ministry of care of the dying.
Drawing upon our guiding principles, our ministry is rooted in our belief that every person is a treasure, every life a sacred gift, every human being a unity of body, mind, and spirit.
About Our Logo
The Coalition logo displays the one angled bar as representative of the ill person who is held up by the other strong, upright bars that represent the support of family, friends, community and health care providers.
The uneven heights and foundations of the supportive bars illustrate the range that others are impacted by the individual in his/her illness and the level of support that they provide. Placement of the Coalition name directly under the graphic demonstrates how the Coalition's work serves as a foundation to support the ill person and the entire community that has gathered around to assist. The logo was designed by Les Stock at the Catholic Health Association.