WELCOME

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INTRODUCTION

Greeting of the Congress Chairs

Lukas Radbruch, Co Chair Scientific Committee Chair Organizing Committee	Stein Kaasa, Chair Scientific Committee

welcome to the 2005 congress of palliative care which is an event of special reach combining the 9 th congress of the EAPC (European Association of Palliative Care) and the 5 th congress of the DGP (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Palliativmedizin). The congress takes place in Aachen, situated in the border triangle between Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium. Not only for this circumstance the congress is themed

Beyond the border.

We are preparing the congress with as much international participation as possible and aim for making this the first worldwide conference in palliative care.

However, the congress title has more than a geographical meaning: borders that we experience in palliative care will be discussed from a physical, psychological, social, spritual and economic point of view. Thanks to the continuous advancements in clinical care and palliative research as well as to the growing political support palliative care is no longer a marginal sector appealing to a small number of specialists. In contrast, palliative care increasingly takes the center stage in political, medical and ethical debates. Herein, repeatedly the issue of ,borders' is adressed: Why is palliative care predominantly directed to tumor patients? Why not until the last phase of life? Why not in all age groups?

In this regard the congress 2005 is of special significance to the distribution of the palliative approach also among non-palliative medical and paramedical professionals. We aim at a great professional diversity of participants.

All EAPC congresses have contributed to the development of palliative care in Europe through presentation of ongoing and prior work in the field and as a meeting place for all health care professionals and volunteers in palliation.

Palliative care is being developed based upon clinical experience and data from quality assurance and research projects

Therefore, we emphasize the importance of your contribution as participant of this congress. Your alert presence and attention, your clinical experience and your scientific knowlegde are indispensable for the maintenance and further development of palliative care as a vivid medical sector.

 
Greeting of the Local Organizing Committee

Dear Colleagues and Participants of the 5 th DGP Congress & 9 th EAPC Congress,

On behalf of the Local Organising Committee we invite you to this world congress of palliative care in Aachen.

Aachen is situated in the border triangle between Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium. The city of Aachen is historically inspiring and offers at the same time various opportunities for recreation and entertainment.

World Heritage Site Cathedral of Aachen. 25 years ago the cathedral of Aachen has been included into the list of the UNESCO world heritage. In the course of the centuries the cathedral has gained significance in very different ways. It has been the burial place of Charlemagne. More than 30 german-roman kings have received their coronation in the Aachen cathedral and historically it has been the most important christian church of pilgrimage.

In Aachen studying and researching are closely connected to each other. A large number of studies are offered in Aachen, and the technical University (RWTH) is an important center of scientific researach. The privileged situation close to the Netherlands and Belgium has encouraged the foundation of the Euregio-Projekt , a cooperation between the academies and universities in the border triangle.

Hot springs. Bad Aachen is a spa with more than 30 springs, some of them up to 74°C, with a high amount of minerals. Its 2000-year-old bathing tradition has brought Aachen the title bath of the kings - and kinglike pleasure is promised by its new thermae Carolus Thermen . ( http://www.carolus-thermen.de ).

In the direct environment of Aachen you can find the Eifel and the Ardennen with their fascinating hilly landscape.

Tourists and inhabitants especially appreciate the mediterannean atmosphere of the Old Town with a large number of restaurants and pubs.

As a matter of course your primary motivation to participate in the congress is your interest in palliative care. Nevertheless it is a pleasure to us to welcome you in this particular region and invite you to experience professional formation and international exchange with ease and delight.