[Neurologist regarding the dependence law]

The approval of the "project of promotion of personal autonomy and care to people on dependence" situation law now opens the parliamentary process to the approval of the mentioned law around October- November 2006. Should the neurologist know its content and express his/her opinion about it?

We analyze the role of neurological disorders as a cause of dependence, the law principles, the involvement of the neurologist in the social-health care coordination, the health administrations involved in the law development and the role of Spanish Neurological Society and regional societies as mediators with the different health administration, the involvement of the neurologist in accreditation, education, research and development, independence promotion, and dependence evaluation.

Given that the project will be modified in the course of its parliamentary process, and the relevance of its reglamentary development, the door has been left open for the role of the neurologist to be accepted at the moment when the law is developed and applied. In any case, the well-being and quality of life of our patients should not be overlooked. We think that the Spanish Neurological Society will have an important role in this process.