ALSA Response

The ALS Association Responds to Upcoming '60 Minutes' Segment, "Choosing Life"
Association Grateful That ALS Community is Highlighted in Follow-Up Story

CALABASAS, Calif., Feb. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- This Sunday, CBS-TV's "60 Minutes" will feature a story about people living with ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease), as a follow-up to their segment aired last November about an ALS patient who chose physician-assisted suicide.

The ALS Association (ALSA) is pleased that "60 Minutes" has chosen to research and produce this segment, and feature an alternative viewpoint, highlighting stories about people who carry the message that there is hope in living with ALS.

According to Mike Havlicek, president of ALSA, "Based on the information we have received from the producers at '60 Minutes,' combined with their effort to involve ALSA in researching the story, we are pleased that the show will provide another viewpoint for those living with a fatal disease such as ALS." Havlicek adds, "We understand this show will pay tribute to the thousands of patients and family members who are courageously battling ALS every day and acknowledge the important contributions they make despite living with physical disability."

The CBS program sparked widespread concern amongst the ALS community for airing the physician-assisted suicide on national television, and for not expressing another side of the story about ALS ... living with the disease. The ALS Association, along with countless other members of the ALS community, wrote and called CBS to voice opinions and concerns about the program, and thankfully, the producers of "60 Minutes" made the commitment to produce a segment focusing on other responses to a diagnosis of ALS.

"The ALS Association applauds the entire ALS community and, in particular, ALS March of Faces. Without their efforts, this show would not be airing Sunday evening," stated Mike Havlicek. "Through their organized effort to display the 'March of Faces' banner at CBS headquarters in New York in December, they provided '60 Minutes' with more than 500 reasons to react ... the more than 500 people represented on the banner that are living with ALS, or have lost their battle with this disease."

While staunchly supporting the right of people with ALS to make health care decisions affecting their life and death, The ALS Association believes just as strongly in the right for people to be fully informed about ALS, including symptom management and comfort measures as ALS progresses.

"Although it is not the role of The ALS Association to come out on either side of the suicide or physician-assisted suicide issue, it is our role to provide information on clinical management available for people with ALS," stated Mary Lyon, R.N., PhD., Vice President, Patient Services for ALSA. Adds Lyon, "In making any decision, The ALS Association believes it is essential that all people with ALS know what treatment options are available and that they do not have to fear living in pain, choking or suffering from depression. There is a choice and there is help."

Clinical and scientific research funded by ALSA has made some significant progress toward developing potential treatments designed to improve the quality of a patient's life.

"We have made remarkable progress in palliative medicine," stated Hiroshi Mitsumoto, M.D., medical director, ALSA Certified Center, Cleveland Clinic. Dr. Mitsumoto continues, "Palliative care is the affirmation of life in its core. The effective use of palliative medicine, non-invasive ventilation, psychological and spiritual support can make terminally ill patients maintain independence, quality of life, and dignity. There is hope for living with ALS."

The ALS Association is the only national not-for-profit voluntary health organization dedicated solely to the fight against amyotrophic lateral sclerosis through research, patient support, information dissemination and public awareness.

For interview opportunities regarding reaction to the "60 Minutes" segment ailing on Sunday, February 28th, please contact Carol Levey at 818-880-9007 x220 or 888-667-7105.

SOURCE The ALS Association