Great advances in biomedicine in the latter half of the 20th century made a significant contribution to the fields of modern medicine and welfare. In the cancer field especially, progress in basic medicine and also in clinical medicine have meant a considerable improvement in treatment results. Despite these advances, it is still a reality that many cancer patients continue to go through total suffering. Under such circumstances, Palliative Medicine, which aims to improve the quality of life (QOL) of patients, is being established in overseas countries.
However, not enough has been done to establish Palliative Medicine in Japan. We therefore founded the Japanese Society for Palliative Medicine in 1996, in order to establish Palliative Medicine as a concept that comprehensively encompasses specialized fields of medicine and welfare. Toward QOL improvement, the Society is dedicated to promoting interdisciplinary and scientific study to develop Palliative Medicine, so as to contribute to society through the practice and education of Palliative Medicine. Additionally, by obtaining corporate status based on the Law to Promote Specified Nonprofit Activities, the Society will further strengthen its ongoing activities and cooperate with other related academic societies, study groups and various organizations in Japan and abroad. Through such efforts, the Society intends to facilitate advancement and promotion of Palliative Medicine, thereby contributing to the development of medicine and welfare.
The Japanese Society for Palliative Medicine will promote interdisciplinary and scientific study to develop Palliative Medicine, aiming at improving people’s quality of life for the entire period of cancer and other intractable diseases, from diagnosis to terminal care. Moreover, through the practice and education of Palliative Medicine, the Society aims to contribute to the development of medicine and welfare.
| (1) | Organizing academic conventions and lecture meetings concerning Palliative Medicine |
| (2) | Organizing seminars, courses, workshops and so forth concerning Palliative Medicine |
| (3) | Promoting study and research into Palliative Medicine |
| (4) | Issuance of Palliative Medicine-related publications |
| (5) | Public relations, and dissemination and exchange of information on Palliative Medicine |
| (6) | Training and certifying specialists in Palliative Medicine |
| (7) | Providing support to Palliative Medicine-related organizations |
| (8) | Other activities as necessary to achieve the objectives of the Society |
| (1) | Regular members: Individuals who have become members of the Society in agreement with its objectives and have interest in its activities, education and study related to medicine and welfare |
| (2) | Associate members: Individuals and organizations who have become members of the Society to support the Society’s activities |
| (3) | Distinguished service members: Individuals recommenced by Directors or Representatives from among those who have made distinguished contribution to the Society, and approved by the Board of Directors, in accordance with the separate bylaws |
| (4) | Honorary members: Individuals or organizations approved by the Board of Directors as having made significant contribution to Palliative Medicine |
[Chairperson]
Kenji Eguchi (Teikyo University)
[Vice Chairperson]
Yasuo Shima (Tsukuba Medical Center Hospital)
[Directors]
Kazue Aoki(Shizuoka Cancer Center)
Yoshikazu Ashino (Towada City Hospital)
Harue Arao(Osaka University)
Etsuko Aruga(Teikyo University)
Daisuke Inoue(The Jikei University)
Atsuko Uchinuno (University of Hyogo)
Hajime Kagaya(Saiseikai Yokohamashi Nanbu Hospital)
Shiro Katayama(Nippon Medical School Hospital)
Yoshiyuki Kizawa (University of Tsukuba)
Yukie Kurihara(Shizuoka Cancer Center)
Fumiko Koyama(Kinki University Hospital)
Youji Saito(Shimane University Faculty of Medicine)
Ryusei Saito(National Hospital Organization Nishigunma Hospital)
Naohito Shimoyama(National Cancer Center)
Yutaka Shirahige(Shirahige Clinic)
Yusuke Takamiya(Showa University)
Noriaki Tanaka(Tottori Municipal Hospital)
Masahito Tanimizu(Shikoku Cancer Center)
Keiko Tamura(Yodogawa Christian Hospital)
Satoko Tamura(Higashi Sapporo Hospital)
Satoru Tsuneto(Osaka University)
Seiji Hattori(The Cancer Institute Hospital of Japanese Foundation
for Cancer Research)
Takashi Higashiguchi(Fujita Health University School of Medicine)
Miki Hosoya(National Cancer Center)
Motohiro Matoba(National Cancer Center)
Mitsunori Miyashita(The University of Tokyo)
Tatsuya Morita(Seirei Mikatahara General Hospital)
[Auditors]
Tetsuo Kashiwagi (Kinjo Gakuin University)
Tadao Kakizoe (National Cancer Center)
Akiyoshi Namiki(Sapporo Medical University)
[Honorary members]
Kaoru Abe, Satoshi Ebihara, Micho Ogawa, Minoru Kurihara, Motoharu Kondo,
Tadao Nagayama
[Distinguished service members]
Masahito Okayasu, Misako Kojima, Noboru Kobayashi, Yasunosuke Sakata,
Fumimaro Takaku, Fumikazu Takeda, Michitaka Nakura, Kiichiro Noda, Kikuro
Nomoto, Shigeaki Hinohara
(Permanent Committees)
Society Regulations Review Committee: Naohito Shimoyama
Education and Training Committee: Yoshiyuki Kizawa
Committee on Health Insurance and Nursing Care Insurance: Takashi Higashiguchi
Public Relations Committee: Kazue Aoki
General Affairs Committee: Harue Arao
Finance Committee: Noriaki Tanaka
Editorial/Academic Committee: Kazunari Abe
Online Journal Committee: Kunihiko Kobayashi
Palliative Care Team Review Committee: Yoshikazu Ashino
Palliative Medicine Guidelines Preparation Committee: Yasuo Shima
Committee on Conflicts of Interst: Ryusei Saito
Specialty Qualification Committee: Satoru Tsuneto
Total number of members: 9,154 (As of Jul 5, 2010)
Breakdown by profession
| Doctors: | 4,506 | (49.2%) |
| Dentists: | 34 | (0.4%) |
| Nurses: | 3,092 | (33.8%) |
| Pharmacists: | 1001 | (10.9%) |
| MSWs: | 148 | (1.6%) |
| Others: | 373 | (4.1%) |
