^^^^^^ WARM GREETINGS FROM ^^^^^^^^^^^^ :-)
Ivan Suzman 50/39/36 [log in to unmask] :-)
Portland, Maine land of lighthouses deg. F :-)
********************************************************************
--------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Barrows, Judy" <[log in to unmask]>
To: "[log in to unmask]" <[log in to unmask]>
Date: 12 Apr 2000 14:08:40 -0400
Subject: Joint Resolution re Parkinson's Disease
Message-ID: <"0399A38F4BBA8098*/c=us/admd=
/prmd=Mainegovt/o=msmail/s=Barrows/g=Judy/"@mhs>
On motion of Representative NORBERT of Portland, the following Joint
Resolution: (H.P. 1929) (Cosponsored by Senator KILKELLY of Lincoln and
Representatives: DAVIS of Falmouth, FULLER of Manchester, JACOBS of
Turner, KANE of Saco, TWOMEY of Biddeford, WATSON of Farmingdale,
Senators: BENOIT of Franklin, MURRAY of Penobscot)
JOINT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING PARKINSON'S DISEASE
AWARENESS MONTH
WHEREAS, Parkinson's disease, or paralysis agitans, is a brain disorder
that usually affects adults over 40 years of age, although it can occur
in any of 3 forms: late-life Parkinson's disease; young-onset Parkinson's
disease, which affects adults under 40 years of age; and juvenile
Parkinson's disease; and
WHEREAS, Parkinson's disease appears eventually in approximately one of
4 persons older than 80 years of age and in one of 10 persons older than
60 years of age and in a significant number of people under 40 years of
age; and
WHEREAS, there are 60,000 new patients diagnosed with Parkinson's
disease annually in the United States, one every 9 minutes; and
WHEREAS, according to the American Parkinson Disease Association, there
are approximately 1,500,000 people in the United States diagnosed with
Parkinson's disease, of which an estimated 7,000 or more are in the State
of Maine; and
WHEREAS, Parkinson's disease causes a loss of cell function deep within
the brain and it is currently an incurable brain disorder of unknown
origin that disrupts and may end the lives of those who suffer from it as
well as overwhelm the lives of their families and friends; and
WHEREAS, Parkinson's disease often takes an enormous emotional,
psychological, physical and financial toll on the patients as well as on
their families and friends; and
WHEREAS, the symptoms of Parkinson's disease, which are tremors,
slowness of movement, shuffling gait, difficulty with balance,
malfunction of vocal cords, lessened facial expression, intestinal
difficulties and emotional changes, are often mistaken as a normal part
of the aging process; and
WHEREAS, medications can only control some of the symptoms of
Parkinson's disease and only for uncertain periods of time; and
WHEREAS, there is a great need for further training and education in the
health care and legal professions to protect the rights of persons with
Parkinson's disease; and
WHEREAS, there is an urgent need for a Parkinson's disease clinic in
Maine to give patients easier access to specialists in Parkinson's
disease and to provide more effective support programs and services to
Parkinson's disease patients and their caregivers and families; and
WHEREAS, increased research is needed to help find more effective
treatments and ultimately to find a cure for Parkinson's disease; and
WHEREAS, full implementation of federal law, the Morris K. Udall
Parkinson's Disease Research Act of 1997, which, starting with the
current fiscal year, directs the National Institutes of Health to spend
up to $100,000,000 annually on Parkinson's disease research, is critical;
and
WHEREAS, April 11th has been proclaimed World Parkinson's Disease Day, a
day for all to recognize the need for more research and help in dealing
with the devastating effects of Parkinson's disease; and
WHEREAS, the leading public officials of the State and leading officials
in the State's medical community are now called upon to aid in reversing
the invisibility and voicelessness of its citizens suffering from
Parkinson's disease; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED: That We, the Members of the One Hundred and Nineteenth
Legislature, now assembled in the Second Regular Session, recognize the
month of April as Parkinson's Disease Awareness Month throughout the
State; and be it further
RESOLVED: That suitable copies of this resolution, duly authenticated
by the Secretary of State, be transmitted to the Maine Parkinson Society
and the Maine Chapter of the American Parkinson Disease Association and
the Board of Licensure in Medicine.
_________________________________
