Sens. Freddie Powell Sims, Dean Burke named to state palliative care study council

ALBANY — Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle announced Senate Study Committee and State Commission appointments last week. These study committees were created with the passage of Senate Resolutions, while State Commissions were enacted by both chambers during the 2016 Legislative Session.

Sens. Freddie Powell-Sims, D-Dawson, and Dean Burke, R-Bainbridge, were appointed to the Georgia Palliative Care and Quality of Life Advisory Council.

Each of the six study committees announced by Cagle will examine and analyze issues affecting Georgia citizens, as well as identify opportunities and solutions to those issues. During the upcoming legislative session, findings will be used to determine the appropriate course of action on appropriate matters.

“These bodies seek to gain a better understanding of the unique challenges facing our state,” Cagle said. “Each member has specific expertise, distinctly qualifying them to serve in such capacities, and I’m confident these leaders’ diligent efforts will help build a better Georgia.”

Sims said she looks forward to getting feedback from throughout Senate District 12 as part of her work with the Palliative Care and Quality of Life Advisory Council.

“It’s always a plus for Southwest Georgia to have an elected official participate on commissions that, hopefully, have a long-term positive effect on our region,” she said. “I think my — along with Dr. Burke, who is from our region — being selected to serve on this council is an opportunity to voice our region’s concerns on issues that impact us extensively.

“I plan for my participation to be extensive, too. I will get vital feedback from my entire district. Getting that feedback, interacting with the people of District 12, is the primary reason I enjoy being a part of this body. I was elected to represent the people of my district, and as long as I am a part of this body, my efforts belong to the people of Southwest Georgia who elected me.”

Burke, a physician, said palliative care issues that will be discussed by the council are important quality-of-life issues.

“Palliative care is basically supportive care for when you have a chronic illness, when you have an illness that is not expected to improve,” Burke said. “Anything we can do to improve a patient’s quality of life while you are dealing with that issue, that’s the general definition used with cancer patients, but it’s not limited to that. It is also used for people with Alzheimer’s.

“This is a little different than most study committees because a House bill (HB 509) brought it into law.”

Burke said the committee’s main task is to review existing palliative care law and make recommendations on improvements

“I think the main thing we are tasked with is to make sure Georgia law is up to standard,” he said. “Our population is aging. We have a lot more people with cancer and Alzheimer’s and other chronic diseases, and we just want to make sure Georgia is up to speed on how to deal with that.”

Managing Editor Carlton Fletcher contributed to this report.