COPD Patients‘ Bill of Rights Jochen Scheld

The Bill of Rights

History In the United States, the Bill of Rights is the name by which the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution are known. They were introduced by James Madison to the First United States Congress in 1789 as a series of articles, and came into effect on December 15, 1791, when they had been ratified by three-fourths of the States. Thomas Jefferson was the main proponent of the Bill of Rights.

Today We have gathered 220 years later in Rome to support the COPD Patient‘s Bill of Rights, in order to: –Improve COPD patients‘ lives and to –Globally fight this disease

The Bill of Rights 1.The right to receive early and accurate diagnosis 2.The right for information and education about COPD 3.The right for support and understanding 4.The right to receive care and treatment that will benefit them 5.The right to their fair share of society‘s involvement and investment in their welfare and care 6.The right to advocate with other COPD patients and supporters for improved COPD care and COPD prevention 7.The right to safe air and environment COPD patients have:

What has to be done to enable and guarantee these rights?

1. The right to receive early and accurate diagnosis Physicians all over the world have to be trained about: –The disease –Its Prevention –The symptoms –The diagnosis –The management AWARENESS among physicians, the public, and care givers !

2. The right for information and education about COPD The patients worldwide have to be informed about COPD: –What is COPD –What causes COPD –Do I have the symptoms of the disease –If so, where can I get help, diagnosis, and treatment AWARENESS among patients !

3. The right for support and understanding The healthy population should know about the disease: –its root causes and –how to avoid getting this disease, –in order, how to help and support COPD sufferers AWARENESS among the population!

4. The right to receive care and treatment that will benefit them Every patient should have access to medication and care: –Affordable medications –Affordable care Governments, care givers, and industry need to get involved in global plans to fight COPD and support COPD patients‘ rights!

5. The right to their fair share of society‘s involvement & investment in their welfare and care COPD affects not only the patients but the entire society. Society plays a dominant role in the cause of COPD and it needs to lead in caring for COPD patients. Sustained effort to fight COPD by the entire population.

6. The right to advocate with other COPD patients and supporters for improved COPD care and COPD prevention COPD patients should be able to work together with other patients and organizations globally to advocate for good care for COPD, good education about COPD, and improved prevention of COPD. There should be global support for COPD patients in developing countries: –Increased support for COPD patient organizations. –Increased support for community COPD efforts. –Getting in contact with COPD groups globally with improved internet connections Facilitate communication worldwide!

7. The right to safe air and environment One root cause for developing COPD is cigarette smoking. Smoking should be banned: –The need to ban smoking in public places enforced by the entire society –COPD warning labels on cigarette packs –Effective warnings against cigarette smoking –Programs for smoking cessation in each country Fight smoking and the tobacco industry. Demand environmental action for safe air.