Dignified Death Policy Brief

Description

Topic : Should the terminally ill have access to Physician Assisted Death (PAD) in Pennsylvania?
Audience: Pennsylvania government official
Possible policy response?
Use NJ and other states as precedent to convince the government official.
Decide on the key points you wish to deliver to the person you are briefing and think about the scope and sequence of your information and a communication strategy. Briefings are semi-formal to formal presentations and demand a high level of substance, relevance, clarity, impact, and efficiency. The organization of your information is very important in a briefing. How will you present this information to your audience? Here is a suggested outline:

Background : Give general information about the health issue. Always include the nature and extent (quantitative numbers) when presenting health data. Identify clearly the health policy proposal(s). You could also explain the overall environment in which this health issue emerged in the health care field.
Rationale: Why is this issue important? This could be in the form of a problem statement or benefits statement.
Substantive Information: (This is the bulk of your presentation.)
Who are the stakeholders?
Who is for the policy, and why?
Who is against the policy and why?
Who is active or influencing the issue?
What are the main and subtext arguments on the issue?
Answer the “So What?” Question. Why is this issue important in health care today? What are the implications if the policy passes or does not pass?
Anticipated Outcome, Conclusion, or Recommendations: How do you anticipate this health policy proposal will “play out?” This is not an opinion but giving the decision maker information to consider.

N.B. This is not an opinion piece but a well-presented overview of the health issue and policy proposal at hand. Work toward clarity, precision, and completeness and be sure to well represent the facts and varying opinions of the issue. See the example I give you on use of firearms by security guards on a college campus.