Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Can We Overcome the Effect of Conflicts in Rendering Palliative Care? An Introduction to the Middle Eastern Cancer Consortium (MECC)

  • Published:
Current Oncology Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The Middle East has been experiencing an ongoing political conflict for the past several decades. This situation has been characterized by hostility often leading to violence of all sources. At times, such a conflict led to the outbreak of a military war, which was followed by an enmity between religious, ethnic, cultural, and national populations. In such environmental situations, palliative care professionals often confront major challenges including bias, mistrust, and mutual suspicion between patients and their treating clinicians. In order to overcome such obstacles, while rendering palliative care services, all professionals involved need careful planning and execution of their treatment plans. The latter is however possible, and sometimes successful even across lines of conflict, thereby promoting understanding, mutual respect, and tolerance between the involved communities and individuals.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance

  1. Horton R. The occupied Palestinian territory: peace, justice, and health. Lancet. 2009;373:784–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. •• Cherny NI, Palliative care in situations of conflict: Lessons from Jerusalem. Am. J. Hospice & Palliative Medicine 2007; 23:469–474. This report exemplifies in a genuine and vivid manner how palliative care clinicians should face situations of enmity and hostility in their ongoing practical work.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Husseini A, Abu-Rmeileh NB, Mikki N, Ramahi TM, Abu Ghosh H, Barghuthi N, et al. Cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, and cancer in the occupied Palestinian territory. Lancet. 2009;373:1041–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. •• Skinner, MA, Abdeen Z, Abdeen H, et al. Promoting Arab and Israeli cooperation: Peacebuilding through health initiatives. Lancet 2005; 365: 1274–77. This article provides a remarkable model whereby clinical and academic projects enhance peace building between individuals and nations undergoing geopolitical conflicts.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Skinner MA, Sriharan A. Building cooperation through health initiatives: an Arab and Israeli case study. Confl Health. 2007;1:8–17.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Freedman L, Edwards B, Ries L, Young J (eds.). Cancer Incidence in Four Member Countries (Cyprus, Egypt, Israel and Jordan) of the Middle East Cancer Consortium (MECC) Compared with US SEER. National Cancer Institute, 2006, NIH Pub. No. 06–5873. Bethesda, MD.

  7. Bingley A, Clark D. Palliative Care Developments in the Region Represented by the Middle East Cancer Consortium: A Review and Comparative Analysis. National Cancer Institute, 2008, NIH Pub. No. 07–6230. Bethesda, MD.

  8. Bingley A, Clark D. A comparative review of palliative care development in six countries represented by the middle east cancer consortium (MECC). J Pain Symptom Manag. 2008;37:287–96.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Santa Barbara J, MacQueen G. Peace through health: Key concepts. Lancet. 2004;364:384–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Silbermann M, The Middle East Cancer Consortium: A model for a regional cooperation program. Health without borders in the Middle East: Session proceedings. JDC – Brookdale Institute, JDC – Israel, Jerusalem; 2003: 23–30.

  11. Silbermann M. The middle east cancer consortium (MECC): a bridge to understanding between people. BRIDGES WHO Pub. 2008;4:4–7.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Silbermann M, Kutluk T, Tuncer M. Middle east cancer consortium international pediatric oncology meeting. Istanbul J Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 2007;29:S1–S22.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Silbermann M (Guest Editor). Cancer pain, suffering and spirituality. Asian Pacific Journal Cancer Prevention, 2010: Supplement, 11:1–120.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Silbermann M, Khleif AD, Balducci L. Healing by cancer. JCO, 2010; 1436–1437.

  15. Ashkenazi T, Berman M, Ben Ami S, Fadila A, Aravot D. A bridge between hearts: mutual organ donation by Arabs and Jews in Israel. Transplantation. 2004;77:151–5. discussion, 156–157.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. • Sriharan A, Abdeen Z, Bojrab D, Shukri D, Elnasser Z, Patterson T, Shprinzen R, Skinner H, Roth Y, Noyek A, Academic medicine as a bridge to peace : Building Arab and Israeli cooperation, Academic Medicine 2009; 84: 1488–1489. This publication is a response to 2009 question of the year indication that despite barriers and obstacles in the way of professional collaborations, academic initiatives can serve as cross-border bridges benefiting all involved.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. •• Meier DE, Casarett DJ, Von Gunten CF, Smith WJ, Storet Jr. CP. Palliative medicine: Politics and policy. J. Palliative Medicine 2010; 13:1-6 In this article, Dr. Meier shares her solid views about how palliative care should be practiced today. These views were expressed within the framework of a panel discussion of renowned palliative care experts.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Grove NJ, Zwi AB. Beyond the log frame: a new tool for examining health and peace building initiatives. Dev practice. 2008;18:66–81.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. World Cancer Congress. International Union against Cancer. Preventing the Preventable, Treating the Treatable, Systems to Make It Happen. Shenzhen, August 18–21, 2010. www.worldcancercongress.org.

Download references

Acknowledgments

We thank our colleagues in the Middle East, Europe, and the United States for their support, encouragement, and involvement in MECC cross-border health initiatives. This initiative is sponsored by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), Bethesda, MD, USA. Contributions to MECC activities were received from the Ministries of Health in Nicosia, Cyprus, and Ankara, Turkey; the SUVAK Foundation, Ankara, Turkey; the International Union Against Cancer (UICC), Geneva, Switzerland; the Middle East Regional Cooperation (MERC) Program, US Agency for International Development (USAID), Washington, DC; the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS), Pittsburgh, PA, USA; and the American Cancer Society (ACS), Atlanta, GA, USA.

Disclosure

No potential conflicts of interest relevant to this article were reported.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Technion- Israel Institute of Technology, Middle East Cancer Consortium, Haifa, Israel

    Michael Silbermann

  2. Al Sadeel Society, Bethlehem, West Bank, Palestinian Authority

    Amal Khleif

  3. Ministry of Health, Ankara, Turkey

    Murat Tuncer

  4. Cyprus Association of Cancer Patients and Friends, Nicosia, Cyprus

    Barbara Pitsillides

  5. Lombardi Cancer Center, Georgetown University Hospital, INCTR, Washington, DC, USA

    Aziza Shad

  6. Poria Medical Center, Tiberias, Israel

    Amitai Oberman

  7. Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt

    Mohammad ElShami

  8. Ministry of Health, Ankara, Turkey

    Murat Gultekin

  9. Saint George University Hospital, Beirut, Lebanon

    Michel Daher

  10. Ministry of Health, Amman, Jordan

    Mohammed Tarawneh

  11. National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA

    Joe Harford

Authors
  1. Michael Silbermann
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Amal Khleif
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Murat Tuncer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Barbara Pitsillides
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Aziza Shad
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Amitai Oberman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Mohammad ElShami
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Murat Gultekin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Michel Daher
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. Mohammed Tarawneh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  11. Joe Harford
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Michael Silbermann.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Silbermann, M., Khleif, A., Tuncer, M. et al. Can We Overcome the Effect of Conflicts in Rendering Palliative Care? An Introduction to the Middle Eastern Cancer Consortium (MECC). Curr Oncol Rep 13, 302–307 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11912-011-0174-z

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11912-011-0174-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation