Bipartisan Senate-House Resolution Recognizes the Importance of Advance Healthcare Decision-Making Encourages members of Congress and their constituents to complete written advance directives

In an effort to encourage all Americans, at all stages of theirlife, to discuss important end-of-life medical decisions with their loved ones, U.S.Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Mike Enzi (R-WY) and U.S RepresentativePhil Gingrey (R-GA) today introduced a joint-resolution to recognize NationalHealth Care Decisions Day. “It’s not easy to talk to a family member or loved ones about what kind of medicalcare you’d want or not want at the end of your life. Yet everyday family membersare making medical care decisions for seriously ill people who can’t speak forthemselves,” said Senator Wyden. “Our hope is that in promoting NationalHealth Care Decisions Day we can spare families from having to make thesedifficult decisions without the guidance from loved ones by encouraging them totalk about end-of-life issues and to fill out written advance directives.” “From advance medical directives, to living wills, to financial planning, Americansneed to know how to prepare themselves for the unthinkable - long term illnessand death,” said Senator Enzi. “Health care decisions are never easy,particularly at the end of a loved one’s life. Still, we need to have a nationaldialogue on how to discuss and document critical end-of-life health care desiresand beliefs. With this resolution we hope to raise the nation’s awareness andencourage families to prepare together in advance in order to spare unduehardships later on.” “Advance directives help ensure that our medical care wishes are known, even ifillness or tragedy leaves us unable to express them,” said CongressmanGingrey. “By preparing an advance directive, we can ease the burden on familyand friends who might otherwise be asked to make difficult healthcare decisionsfor us. By designating April 16th as National Health Care Decisions Day, wehope to encourage adults of all ages to take a moment to consider and discusstheir medical care preferences with loved ones and then fill out their own writtenadvance directive. These sorts of decisions are never easy, but by making atough decision now, you can save your family from an even tougher one downthe road.” The bipartisan Senate-House Resolution supports the goals and ideals ofNational Health Care Decisions Day by encouraging health care, civic,educational, religious and other organizations to encourage individuals to useadvance directives, while asking all Americans, including members of Congressto prepare advance directives for themselves. According to Nathan Kottkamp,Chair of the National Healthcare Decisions Day, fewer than 25% of all Americanshave an advance directive. At this year’s inaugural National Health Care Decisions Day – which will be heldon April 16, 2008 – organizations will team up across the country to not onlyhighlight the importance of advance healthcare decision-making, but to helpindividuals execute written advance directives in accordance with state laws.These resources are available at www.nationalhealthcaredecisionsday.org.The following national organizations have already committed to participating inthis annual event by encouraging their members and chapters to engage invarious education initiatives on National Health Care Decisions Day: AARPAscension HealthAging With DignityAGIS NetworkAmerican Academy of Nurse PractitionersAmerican Association for HomecareAmerican Association of Critical-Care NursesAmerican Association of Homes and Services for the AgingAmerican Association of Medical CollegesAmerican Bar AssociationAmerican College of PhysiciansAmerican College of Healthcare ExecutivesAssociation for Healthcare Volunteer Resource ProfessionalsAmerican Geriatrics SocietyAmerican Health Care AssociationAmerican Health Lawyers AssociationAmerican Hospital AssociationAmerican Medical AssociationAmerican Medical Directors AssociationAmerican Nurses AssociationAssociation of Professional ChaplainsB'nai B'rith InternationalCaring AdvocatesCatholic Health Association of the United StatesCenter for Elder Justice and Policy at William Mitchell College of LawCenter for Medicare AdvocacyCenter for Practical BioethicsCenter for Social GerontologyChinese American Coalition for Compassionate CareDonate Life AmericaDuke Institute on Care at the End of LifeFederation of American HospitalsFinancial Planning AssociationHospice and Palliative Nurses AssociationMedical Library AssociationNational Academy of Elder Law AttorneysNational Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a)National Association of Jewish ChaplainsNational Association of Professional Geriatric Care ManagersNational Association of Social WorkersNational Association on Directors of Nursing Administration in Long Term CareNational Bar Association Healthcare Law SectionNational Center for Assisted LivingNational Family Caregivers AssociationNational Hispanic Medical AssociationNational Hospice and Palliative Care OrganizationNational Medical AssociationNational POLST Paradigm Initiative Task ForceNational Right to LifeOncology Nursing SocietyPhysician Hospitals of AmericaProject GRACESelected Independent Funeral HomesSAGESocial Work Hospice and Palliative Care Network (SWHPN)Society of Hospital MedicineSupportive Care CoalitionNCCNHR: The National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term CareThe American College of Chest Physicians and The Chest FoundationThe Division of Transplantation, Health Resources and Service Administration,US Department of Health and Human ServicesThe Hastings CenterThe HealthCare ChaplaincyThe Judge David L. Bazelon Center for Mental Health LawThe National Association of Catholic ChaplainsUnited States Army Judge Advocate General's Corps -30-