Advocacy
Advocacy is Needed for Pending Legislation
Your help is needed. Please contact your local state senators and assemblymen today. Together, we can make a difference!Family Health Care Decisions Act
New York State is one of only two States that prohibit family members from making health care decisions for incapacitated loved ones. Under current New York law, no one – not even a concerned family member – has the right to make decisions about medical treatment for patients who lack capacity, unless the patient has signed a proxy or left “clear and convincing evidence” of his or her treatment wishes. Unfortunately, many people never sign a proxy or leave “clear and convincing” evidence of their treatment wishes. As a result, some incapacitated patients are denied appropriate treatment, while others are subjected to burdensome, highly invasive treatment that violates their wishes and prolongs their suffering. The Family Health Care Decisions Act would allow family members and others who are closest to the patient to act as surrogates and make decisions regarding medical treatment for a loved one in certain limited situations. The legislation includes numerous safeguards to ensure sound medical treatment and that decisions are made consistent with the patient’s wishes and best interests. Over forty organizations support passage of the Family Health Care Decisions Act, including the NYS Task Force on Life and the Law, patients’ right organizations, health care providers, and civic and religious organizations. The bill has yet to be re-introduced this year, but both Houses are expected to reintroduce it in the near future.
Nurse practitioners Signing DNR Orders
This bill – S.598 – would allow nurse practitioners to sign and execute a DNR order on behalf of a patient. The bill passed in the Assembly last year, but did not pass in the Senate (although the bill did advance out of the Senate Health Committee). Currently, only physicians can sign and execute DNR orders. The law should be expanded to allow nurse practitioners – who are often the primary care providers for certain patients – to sign and execute such orders.
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