AUGUSTA – The Maine Hospice Council and Center for End-of-Life Care, in partnership with Maine’s Office of the Attorney General, will host a series of town hall meetings to be held in seven communities across the state beginning Sept. 20.

How are we doing with end-of-life care in Maine? What is working well? What is missing? What conversations do we need to have? Who needs to be involved? Is pain being managed? Are wishes being respected?

These questions and others will be the topics for discussion as Attorney General Steve Rowe and other state leaders invite community members around the state to engage in a dialogue.

Dr. Dora Mills, Maine’s chief health officer, is expected to join Rowe and the Maine Hospice Council and Center for End-of-Life Care at certain meetings. Tapping into the hospice and palliative-care expertise in each area, a panel of local resource people will be available to respond to any region-specific questions or concerns.

The discussions will be a follow-up, and complement to, the “Consumer Protection Conference” that was hosted by the Maine Hospice Council and Center for End-of-Life Care and Maine’s Office of the Attorney General in September 2004.

The town hall meetings are free and open to the public. They are scheduled as follows:

Thursday, Sept. 20, from 6 to 8 p.m., Androscoggin Bank Coliseé Shipyard Lounge, Lewiston.

Thursday, Sept. 27, from 6 to 8 p.m., Machias Savings Bank community room.

Thursday, Oct. 4, from 6 to 8 p.m., Thomas College auditorium, Waterville.

Thursday, Oct. 11, from 6 to 8 p.m., St. Joseph’s Healthcare Park, Bangor.

Thursday, Oct. 18, from 6 to 8 p.m., University of Maine, Presque Isle.

Thursday, Oct. 25, from 6 to 8 p.m., Miles Home Health and Hospice board room, Damariscotta.

Thursday, Nov. 1, from 6 to 8 p.m., Maine Medical Center, Dana Center, Portland.

For more information, call the council at 626-0651 or check the Web site www.mainehospicecouncil.org.