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.

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LC03166

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