Who is Dr. John Lerma

Interesting piece of news ...

Defeating the Taliban by Treating the World's Sick: A New Approach to the Afghan Poppy Trade

"Currently, the U.S. policy of poppy eradication in Afghanistan is futile, unimaginative and fails to take into account the economic needs of the Afghan population. It also overlooks a creative, ethical and sustainable solution to the problem of the opium trade in Afghanistan. Rather than trying to stomp out poppy production by force, the U.S. should be working with international partners to establish a framework to assist Afghan farmers in selling their poppy crops to organizations that can use them to make medicines for those in the developing world in need of palliative care.

The World Health Organization (WHO), doctors and NGOs around the developing world have noted repeatedly the shortage of morphine as a major obstacle to providing widespread palliative care. In 2002, the WHO published "Assuring Availability of Opioid Analgesics for Palliative Care," acknowledging the limited access to opiates in the developing world. In March of 2003, the International Narcotics Control Board Annual Report concluded that "essential narcotic drugs used for medical purposes are insufficiently available in many countries around the world."

Read the rest of this article at yahoo news.

Afghanistan poppy seeds can be used to help palliative patients in poor countries instead

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Well Dr Lerma's new book "Into The Light" is doing well on the bestsellers list especially after his appearance on Coast to Coast with George Noory.
He received many wonderful emails from listeners touched and inspired by the stories from his book. Dr Lerma is a wonderful speaker whose compassion flows from his voice when recounting the experiences of his many terminally ill patients.

Dr. Lerma has worked closely with MD Anderson hospital, the leading cancer institute in the world in research and teaching.
Some facts on Dr. Lerma's professional accreditation:
-he obtained a degree in pharmacy at The University of Texas at Austin,
-Dr. John Lerma entered medical school at the University of Texas San Antonio and years later finished his training in Internal Medicine
-last ten years his prime career focus has been in the field of hospice and palliative medicine.
-he is board certified in Hospice and Palliative Medicine,
-Dr. Lerma is widely recognized for his compassionate respectful care of terminally-ill patients and research in the field of end of life care.

His experience includes teaching hospice and palliative medicine to medical students, residents, geriatric, oncology and palliative fellows from several institutions including but not limited to, Baylor College of Medicine, The University of Texas Medical School, and MD Anderson Cancer Institute.

Some examples of the topics Dr Lerma teaches:

- spirituality and death
- pain management in the terminally ill
- Palliative nursing and Pharmacology -
- deathbed hallucinations versus visions.

Dr. Lerma also an international speaker, lectures on, Pre-death Experiences: A hospice physician's perspective on spirituality and the terminally ill.

Dr. John Lerma frequently appears on local, national, and international media.
Dr John Lerma is currently at work setting up a non profit organization to bring the gift of hospice and palliative care to under served regions in South America and Mexico.

~~~Dr Lerma appears on the Louis Free Show. Dr Lerma is on during the final 20 minutes (at the 4:35:09 mark) of the show.
Listen to Dr Lerma on the Louie Free Radio Show

~~~Dr John Lerma appears on the Dr. Pat Show, great interview here.
Listen to Dr Lerma on the Dr Pat Show

~~~Dr Lerma discusses predeath experiences on WJBC, The Online Voice of McLean County
Listen to Dr Lerma

~~~Dr John Lerma discusses what happens to us when we die. He also recounts a moving story involving his own father.
Listen to Dr Lerma on transitioning to the AfterLife