R
170
2003 -- H 6378
Enacted 04/30/03
H O U S E R E
S O L U T I O N
RECOGNIZING APRIL 27 THROUGH
MAY 3, 2003 AS "ADVANCE CARE PLANNING AWARENESS WEEK" IN THE STATE OF
RHODE ISLAND
Introduced By:
Representatives Ginaitt, McNamara, Shavers, and Cerra
Date
Introduced: April 30, 2003
WHEREAS,
The House of Representatives has found that adults have the right to make
decisions concerning medical
treatment; and
WHEREAS,
The House of Representatives has enacted legislation to permit Rhode
Islanders to exercise their
right to make medical decisions even when they can no longer
communicate for themselves
through Advance Care Planning by the Durable Power of Attorney
for Health Care Act and
Terminally Ill Patient Act; and
WHEREAS,
Advance Care Planning permits a person to make health care decisions in
advance of losing their ability
to communicate; and
WHEREAS,
Rhode Island law authorizes two (2) types of legal documents for Advanced
Care Planning; the Durable
Power of Attorney for Health Care and the Living Will; and
WHEREAS,
Hesitancy to talk about end-of-life issues, while understandable, places a
heavy burden on people at a
time when suffering and loss can be overwhelming; and
WHEREAS,
A Living Will allows Rhode Islanders to express their medical wishes
carried out even at a point
when they are unable to communicate those wishes; and
WHEREAS,
An understanding of the availability, the Durable Power of Attorney for
Health Care and the Living
Will, will help to ease the stress and difficulties that family and
friends face toward the end of
a person’s life; and
WHEREAS,
Greater information and communication in the general community about
end-of-life and hospice care
will give Rhode Islanders more comfortable avenues through which
they can discuss these
important matters; and
WHEREAS,
Advance Care Planning affects citizens of all ages; however, elderly persons
have a greater likelihood of
not being able to exercise their fundamental right to make decisions
concerning medical treatment
because of illness or disorders; and
WHEREAS,
Per capita, Rhode Island has the second largest percentage of elderly
residents. Therefore making the
need for awareness and accessibility to Advance Care Planning
extremely important for them;
and
WHEREAS,
The variety of medical treatments available to patients may create a difficult
decision if a patient has not
utilized Advance Care Planning; and
WHEREAS,
The Department of Health, through its various public service
announcements and
communications, reaches many people throughout our state. Clearly a
campaign to remind people of
the wisdom of discussing end-of-life issues and to encourage
Advanced Care Planning can be
of enormous benefits to our citizens; now, therefore be it
RESOLVED,
That this Houses of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and
Providence Plantations hereby
recognizes the important benefits of Advance Care Planning to the
citizens of the state; and be
it further
RESOLVED,
That the Department of Health proclaim “Advance Care Planning
Awareness” for Rhode Island
Citizens by a display on the web page and in public places; and be
it further
RESOLVED,
That the Department of Health provide answers to frequently asked
questions regarding advance
care directives; and be it further
RESOLVED,
That the Department of Health coordinate with other state and private
agencies to provide
information to citizens regarding the benefits of Advance Care Planning and
access to the forms necessary
to complete either the Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care
or a Living Will; and be it
further
RESOLVED,
That the Secretary of State be and he is hereby authorized and directed to
transmit a duly certified copy
of this resolution to the Director of the Department of Health.
=======
LC03166
=======