[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 13 (Wednesday, January 30, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Page S406]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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  SENATE RESOLUTION 21--DESIGNATING FEBRUARY 14, 2013, AS ``NATIONAL 
            SOLIDARITY DAY FOR COMPASSIONATE PATIENT CARE''

  Mr. LAUTENBERG submitted the following resolution; which was referred 
to the Committee on the Judiciary:

                               S. Res. 21

       Whereas the National Solidarity Day for Compassionate 
     Patient Care promotes national awareness of the importance of 
     compassionate and respectful relationships between health 
     care professionals and their patients as reflected in 
     attitudes that are sensitive to the values, autonomy, 
     cultural, and ethnic backgrounds of patients and families;
       Whereas individuals and groups of medical professionals and 
     students stand in solidarity to support compassion in health 
     care as expressed by Dr. Randall Friese, triage physician at 
     the University of Arizona Medical Center who, when queried, 
     stated that the most important treatment he provided to 
     Congress member Gabrielle Giffords after she was shot on 
     January 8, 2011, was to hold her hand and reassure her that 
     she was in the hospital and would be cared for;
       Whereas physicians, nurses, all other health care 
     professionals, and medical facilities are charged with 
     providing both the art and science of medicine;
       Whereas a greater awareness of the importance of compassion 
     in health care encourages health care professionals to be 
     mindful of the need to treat the patient rather than the 
     disease;
       Whereas scientific research illustrates that when health 
     care professionals practice humanistically; demonstrating the 
     qualities of integrity, excellence, compassion, altruism, 
     respect, empathy, and service, their patients have better 
     medical outcomes; and
       Whereas February 14th would be an appropriate day to 
     designate as National Solidarity Day for Compassionate 
     Patient Care and to celebrate it by health care students and 
     professionals performing humanistic acts of compassion and 
     kindness toward patients, families of patients, and health 
     care colleagues: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates February 14, 2013, as ``National Solidarity 
     Day for Compassionate Patient Care'';
       (2) recognizes the importance and value of a respectful 
     relationship between health care professionals and their 
     patients as a means of promoting better health outcomes; and
       (3) encourages all health care professionals to be mindful 
     of the importance of both--
       (A) being humanistic and compassionate; and
       (B) providing technical expertise.

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