Bill Text: NJ AJR14 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Introduced


Bill Title: Designates April 10th of each year as "Liam's Day" in New Jersey.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-01-16 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Health and Senior Services Committee [AJR14 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2014-AJR14-Introduced.html

ASSEMBLY JOINT RESOLUTION

No. 14

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

216th LEGISLATURE

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2014 SESSION

 


 

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman  JON M. BRAMNICK

District 21 (Morris, Somerset and Union)

Assemblywoman  NANCY F. MUNOZ

District 21 (Morris, Somerset and Union)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Designates April 10th of each year as "Liam's Day" in New Jersey.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel

 


A Joint Resolution designating April 10th of each year as "Liam's Day" in New Jersey.

 

Whereas, In our modern society, with the advancement of medical technology and specialized care, we expect children to outlive their parents.  Unfortunately, that is not always the case. Approximately 53,000 children die each year from accidents, trauma, congenital conditions, prematurity, inherited disorders, or acquired diseases; and

Whereas, The causes of death in children are substantially different from the causes of death in adults; therefore, inpatient palliative care guidelines that are appropriate for adults are often inappropriate for children; and

Whereas, Inpatient pediatric palliative care includes the control of pain and other symptoms and addresses the psychological, social, or spiritual problems faced by terminally-ill children and their families.  The goal of inpatient pediatric palliative care is the achievement of the best quality of life for pediatric patients and their families consistent with their values; and

Whereas, On March 9, 2007, at the age of 16 months, Liam Hayden McNamara passed away due to a condition called Lissencephaly (Miller-Dieker Syndrome).  Before his passing, Liam and his family visited the hospital many times; becoming very familiar with their hospital surroundings which, among other things, consisted of oatmeal colored walls, fluorescent lights, and a metal crib; and

Whereas, Liam's Room was founded by Lisa and Peter McNamara, in memory of their son, Liam.  The mission of Liam's Room is to create inpatient pediatric palliative care rooms and services for families whose children are suffering from chronic, potentially life-limiting conditions, in order to provide pediatric patients and their families with a feeling of having a home away from home during periods of inpatient care; and

Whereas, It is appropriate that all citizens of the State of New Jersey be better informed about the need for inpatient pediatric palliative care and its impact on the quality of life for pediatric patients and their families; now, therefore,

 

     Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1.    April 10th of each year is designated as "Liam's Day" in the State of New Jersey to promote awareness of the need for inpatient pediatric palliative care in New Jersey.

 

     2.    The Governor shall annually issue a proclamation calling upon public officials and the citizens of New Jersey to observe the day with appropriate activities and programs, which promote awareness of the need for inpatient pediatric palliative care in New Jersey.

 

     3.    This joint resolution shall take effect immediately.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     This joint resolution designates April 10th of each year as "Liam's Day" to promote awareness of the need for inpatient pediatric palliative care in New Jersey.

     On March 9, 2007, at the age of 16 months, Liam Hayden McNamara passed away due to a condition called Lissencephaly (Miller-Dieker Syndrome).  Before his passing, Liam and his family visited the hospital many times; becoming very familiar with their hospital surroundings which, among other things, consisted of oatmeal colored walls, fluorescent lights, and a metal crib.  The mission of Liam's Room, founded by Lisa and Peter McNamara in memory of their son, Liam, is to create inpatient pediatric palliative care rooms and services for families whose children are suffering from chronic, potentially life-limiting conditions, in order to provide pediatric patients and their families with a feeling of having a home away from home during periods of inpatient care.

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