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Newton joins nation in recognition of National Healthcare Decisions Day
A presentation by a Newton physician, who daily encounters local families needing assistance with honoring their loved one's wishes, highlights a town hall meeting on Apr. 16 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
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in the Newton Medical Center Prairie Conference Room in conjunction with the second annual National Healthcare Decisions Day.
Dr. Carrie Bateman, a Newton Medical Center hospitalist, will speak to the importance of individuals completing advance directives used to guide families and healthcare providers in the absence of guidance from the patient. A hospitalist is a relatively new medical specialty that cares only for hospitalized patients.
As a local participating organization, Newton Medical Center's Ethics Committee is providing information and tools for the public to talk about their wishes with family, friends and healthcare providers, and execute written advance directives (healthcare power of attorney and living will) in accordance with Kansas state laws. Committee members will also be on hand to help answer questions. Notaries will be available to notarize completed advance directives.
While making healthcare decisions is often difficult in the best of circumstances, making decisions for others is even more complicated. Each of us has the ability to guide our healthcare providers and our loved ones about what we want. Advance directives give you the ability to document the types of healthcare you do and do not want, and to name an agent to speak for you if you cannot speak for yourself.
National Healthcare Decisions Day is an effort to promote advance care planning and healthcare decision-making. More than 500 organizations in all 50 states are expected to participate. Kansas Health Ethics, Inc., whose mission is to provide education about the essential role of health ethics in quality of life decision-making, is the state liaison in this collaborative effort.
As a result of NHDD, many more people in our communities can be expected to have thoughtful conversations about their healthcare decisions and complete reliable advance directives to make their wishes known. As Terri Schiavo's situation vividly revealed, having an advance directive can be valuable for all adults, regardless of current age or health status.
There are no wrong answers when thinking about healthcare choices and completing an advance directive. Please use Apr. 16 to decide, discuss, and document your wishes, whatever they may be.
For more information about National Healthcare Decisions Day, please visit
www.nationalhealthcaredecisionsday.org or www.kansashealthethics.org.
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