Cameron inspires Hospital Compassionate Care / Sharon (MUM)
Late director continues to inspire
By JUSTIN LATIF - Western Leader | Friday, 15 August 2008
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INSPIRING DIRECTOR: Cameron Duncan died of osteosarcoma cancer in November, 2003.
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It's been five years since budding film director Cameron Duncan died of cancer at 17.
But still his influence lives on.
One of Cameron’s most poignant pieces of work was a short video clip highlighting the hardships of chemotherapy and life in hospital.
The piece was shown on the Holmes show shortly before Cameron’s death and was included as a special feature on a Lord of the Rings DVD directed by his friend and mentor Peter Jackson.
Among those who originally saw it was Waitakere Hospital anaesthetist Robin Youngson, who has spent the last 20 years campaigning to make hospitals more caring and humane environments.
Robin, 52, was touched by Cameron’s work and inspired to step up his own efforts.
Now his hard work has come to fruition.
Robin launched the Centre for Compassion website this month.
The site is a resource for healthcare workers, offering them access to support and counselling services.
Robin says hospital staff are often left to fend for themselves after dealing with tragic and sometimes horrific situations.
Police and other emergency workers, by comparison, are offered assistance with post traumatic stress.
"I’ve seen so many terrible traumas as a doctor," Robin says.
"They make you detach yourself from your emotions and we can seem uncaring.
"That’s why the emotional experience of patients can be so depressing."
He believes a shift in attitudes could make New Zealand’s hospitals more attractive places to work.
"If we really focus on making a safe and healthy environment for health professionals we are less likely to lose staff overseas and as a consequence we will provide more humane care for patients."
Robin is using Cameron’s work as a resource for doctors.
He hopes the clips will give them a greater insight.
Cameron’s mother Sharon is honoured to see her son’s work put to good use.
"Cameron has obviously been a huge influence in the changing of attitudes towards patients in New Zealand," she says.
"It’SPs nice to know that five years after his death he still lives on."
Go to the website www.compassioninhealthcare.org for more information about the Centre of Compassion and upcoming seminars.
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