SUBSTITUTE FOR
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 77
1 A resolution to declare April 16, 2023, as Healthcare
2 Decisions Day in the state of Michigan.
3 Whereas, National Healthcare Decisions Day is April 16, 2023,
4 and is designed to raise public awareness of the need to plan ahead
5 for healthcare decisions related to end-of-life care and medical
6 decision-making whenever patients are unable to speak for
7 themselves and to encourage the specific use of advance directives
8 to communicate these important healthcare decisions; and
9 Whereas, It is estimated that only about 20 percent of people
10 in Michigan have executed an advance directive, in part due to a
11 lack of knowledge about advance directives and considerable public
12 confusion arising from advance directives that are often written in
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1 difficult to understand legal and medical terms; and
2 Whereas, Michigan citizens can complete an advanced directive
3 and submit it to the statewide registry called Peace of Mind; and
4 Whereas, One of the principal goals of Healthcare Decisions
5 Day is to encourage hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living
6 facilities, continuing care retirement communities, and hospices to
7 participate in a statewide effort to provide clear and consistent
8 information to the public about advance directives and increase the
9 number of Michigan residents with advance directives; and
10 Whereas, Many of the Michigan healthcare, business, faith
11 based groups, and senior services organizations have demonstrated
12 commendable leadership in furthering patient and caregiver-focused
13 advance care planning, and are committed to educating the public
14 about the importance of discussing healthcare choices and
15 completing advance directives; and
16 Whereas, As a result of April 16, 2023, being recognized as
17 Healthcare Decisions Day throughout Michigan, more citizens will
18 have conversations about their healthcare decisions; more citizens
19 will execute advance directives to make their wishes known; and
20 fewer families and healthcare providers will have to struggle with
21 making difficult healthcare decisions in the absence of guidance
22 from the patient; now, therefore, be it
23 Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the members of
24 this legislative body declare April 16, 2023, as Healthcare
25 Decisions Day in the state of Michigan. We call this observance to
26 the attention of all citizens.
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