LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to
proclaim April 16, 2014, as Healthcare Decisions Day in the State of New
York

WHEREAS, New York State places the highest priority on the health and
well-being of all our citizens; and
WHEREAS, Honoring patient preferences is a critical element in provid-
ing quality end-of-life care; and
WHEREAS, Every adult has the right to decide his or her own health
care treatment, and, after discussions with loved ones about prefer-
ences, should appoint a person as a health care agent he or she trusts
to make health care decisions for him or her in the event of incapacity,
by executing a health care proxy; and
WHEREAS, It is essential that all adults also discuss their health
care wishes with their health care providers, and provide them with a
copy of their health care proxy so their health care decisions can be
honored if they are incapacitated; and
WHEREAS, It is essential that seriously ill persons, or their desig-
nated health care agent or surrogate, work with their physician and
consider completing a Medical Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment
(MOLST) form if the person wants to avoid or receive any or all life-
sustaining treatment, resides in a long-term care facility or requires
long-term care services and might die within the next year; and
WHEREAS, The National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD) Initiative is a
collaborative effort of national, state and community organizations to
inspire, educate and empower the public and providers about the impor-
tance of advance care planning; and
WHEREAS, The NHDD New York State (NYS) Coalition has promoted National
Healthcare Decisions Day in New York State since 2009, and is committed
to ensuring all adults with decision-making capacity have the informa-
tion and opportunity to communicate and document their health care deci-
sions by aiming to increase conversations which lead to completion of
health care proxies, increase awareness of the MOLST Program in the
community, and support statewide implementation of MOLST, Family Health
Care Decisions Act, Palliative Care Information Act and Palliative Care
Access Act, and appropriate legislative changes; and
WHEREAS, The NHDD has designated April 16th as National Healthcare
Decisions Day, and hundreds of events will be taking place all over the
country to commemorate this day; and
WHEREAS, This observance offers a special and important opportunity to
encourage New Yorkers to communicate their health care preferences and
execute a health care proxy, and for seriously ill persons to learn
about MOLST; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim April 16, 2014, as
Healthcare Decisions Day in the State of New York; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New
York.