(April 20th, 2016) During the United Nations General Assembly in New York it will be delivered an handbook that engages all the doctors to cure their patient’s pain and to bear the physical and emotional suffering, caused by the pain itself. Professor of anesthesia and intensive care at the University of Parma and father of the historical Law n.38/2010 against pain, Professor Guido Fanelli promoted a real "Commitment" amongst the Italian doctors. Fanelli himself is delivering today the handbook "Commitment against pain, the manifesto of the Italian doctors" to the Assembly of the United Nations. The Assembly have been summoned for a special session from April 19th to 22nd, to discuss a global strategy to promote the equality in the access to pain management worldwide. Given the subject on the agenda, the UN has decided to invite Professor Fanelli as "expert discussant" in light of its merits and its international reputation; especially since the professor promoted in Italy the most advanced and forward-thinking legislation of the world in the field of analgesic treatment. Led by Professor Fanelli, president of the Promoting Committee of the “Commitment”, the Italian doctors responded once again with a forward-looking document, which commits them all, accordingly to knowledge and belief, to effectively take care of the physical and emotional pain of their patients. This commitment goes beyond the clinical and health dimension, embracing the humanitarian and ethical sphere. Not surprisingly, the "Commitment of Italian doctors" will be delivered today also to Pope Francis by a pain therapist chosen by Professor Fanelli,. (Red)

FACT SHEET/ THE COMMENT

“These days have a significance that goes beyond the mere symbolic value. - Professor Guido Fanelli commented. In delivering our 'Manifesto' to the Pope and to the United Nations we wanted to involve the highest offices worldwide in our battle. Offices that are already engaged on several fronts in the most important humanitarian issues, and which are committed to the safeguard of fundamental human rights. The implication is that to suffer needlessly is part of those core fundamental and inalienable rights; this cannot be doubted. Then prof. Farinelli added “These days have also another important meaning: the invitation to intervene actively at the General Assembly of the United Nations, which met in special session to develop an overall strategy to overcome the problem of inequality in the access to pain management, it should represent a great source of pride for Italy. The international community recognized to our country the value of our pioneering impulse. An impulse that, in 2010, induced Italy to launch the most advanced legislation of the world on the fight against pain and on the right of the patients not to suffer. In 2010 the UN itself, not by chance, recognized this vanguard role, acknowledging our Law n.38 as a model for creating a reference document applicable in all countries of the world. It is with the same pride that brought us to New York a few years ago to discuss the law with the highest representative body of the international community that we are delivering today our “Commitment against pain. The manifesto of the Italian doctors” to the United Nations. The paper was wrote by the representatives of 44 centers of excellence in the treatment of pain, and countersigned by 200 of the most renowned and valiant Italian pain therapists. Through a simple Decalogue that commits each and every one, as professionals and as human beings, to treat pain and to take care of the physical and emotional suffering caused by that same the pain".