April 16, 2012 is National Health Care Decisions Day. The goal of the day is to encourage Americans to think and talk about their health care goals and communicate their health care decisions by executing advance health care directives. Across the United States, health care providers, professionals, chaplains, attorneys and others will focus attention on the importance of appointing health care decision-makers and expressing end-of-life care desires. These groups will educate Americans that they have the right to make decisions about their health care in the event they can not speak for themselves. They will also draw attention to the steps individuals can take to execute advance health care directives, such as appointments of health care representatives, health care powers of attorney and living will declarations, in accordance with applicable state laws.
Studies indicate that most Americans have not executed documents that name a health care decision-maker or a living will declaration to express their wishes for end-of-life care. As a result, families and health care providers regularly struggle when forced to make difficult health care decisions in a crisis in the absence of guidance from the patient. These stressful moments can be eased if individuals execute advance health care directives.
National health care Decisions Day is a collaborative effort and many national organizations are participating, including AARP, American Health Law Association and the American Hospital Association. Additional information about the event is available at www.nhdd.org.
If you have any questions about the event or want to discuss how Hall Render can help your organization build awareness of these important decisions, please contact Sean J. Fahey at 317.977.1472 or sfahey@hallrender.com or your regular Hall Render attorney.
