On October 8, in Marriott-Tbilisi hotel, Open Society Georgia Foundation presented its new initiative and called for active law offices in Georgia to deliver free of charge legal consultations to palliative care patients.
One of the topical problems accompanying the expected death of palliative care patients is related to distribution of legacy, safeguarding family members… Active palliative care centers (hospices) are incapable of providing legal aid to patients.
The aim of the meeting was to inform active law offices in Georgia about the new initiative. Through the material given they perceived importance of including free of charge legal aid in the system. Initially a documentary film was shown which told a story of tragic death of palliative care patient and the details of violation of her rights.
“Considering experience of the west, we find it very important to enhance motivation of law firms, to deliver free of charge consultations to terminally ill patients for relieving their grave condition”, said Nino Kiknadze, director of Law, Media and Health Initiative of Open Society Georgia Foundation.
The project further aims at educating palliative care centre staff on the basic legal issues (inheritance, will, legal heir, gift, child adoption, etc) through delivering training and special information material.
For settling the mentioned problem, Open Society Georgia Foundation law, Media and Health initiative contacted Kordzadze Law Office, which is currently the only law office that expressed its good will to assist patients free of charge.Nino Kiknadze
Project “Law, Media and Healthcare” – coordinator