TIME Magazine Turns to The Patient Voice Following Global News Story
Following international media coverage of Senator Lindsey Graham's death, TIME magazine approached Aortic Dissection Awareness UK & Ireland for the patient perspective. As the UK's only charity dedicated exclusively to aortic dissection and run by patients, for patients, we were proud to contribute.
The sudden death of U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham from an aortic dissection has brought rare international attention to a condition that remains unfamiliar to much of the public despite being one of medicine's most time-critical emergencies.
As news of the Senator's death emerged, TIME magazine contacted Aortic Dissection Awareness UK & Ireland to provide the patient perspective for its feature explaining the condition to readers around the world.
As the UK's only charity dedicated exclusively to aortic dissection and led by patients, for patients, we were pleased to contribute to an article helping to explain what an aortic dissection is, why rapid diagnosis is so important, and the life-changing impact it has on those who survive.
While clinicians provide vital medical expertise, the lived experience of patients and families offers an equally important perspective. Every survivor has faced not only a life-threatening medical emergency but also the physical, emotional and practical challenges that follow long after leaving hospital.
Media opportunities such as this help ensure that conversations about aortic dissection extend beyond the operating theatre. They raise awareness of the warning signs, reinforce the importance of early diagnosis and highlight the ongoing needs of patients and their families. The journalist was very keen to include a link to the THINK AORTA campaign website (www.thinkaorta.com)
Over the past decade, Aortic Dissection Awareness UK & Ireland has worked tirelessly to ensure that the patient voice is represented alongside healthcare professionals, researchers and policymakers. Being approached by one of the world's most recognised news publications reflects the growing recognition that patients have an essential role to play in improving awareness and outcomes.
We are grateful to TIME for including the patient perspective and helping to bring greater public attention to a condition where every minute matters.
Check the link below for the online article.
