THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY PAYNE, GILLESPIE, BAKER, BEAR, BEYER, BOYD, BRADFORD, CALTAGIRONE, CONKLIN, CREIGHTON, DeWEESE, DiGIROLAMO, DONATUCCI, J. EVANS, EVERETT, GEIST, GEORGE, GINGRICH, GOODMAN, GRELL, GRUCELA, HARRIS, HELM, HENNESSEY, HESS, HICKERNELL, KNOWLES, KOTIK, KULA, MAJOR, MARSICO, McILVAINE SMITH, MICOZZIE, MILLARD, MURT, MUSTIO, M. O'BRIEN, O'NEILL, PHILLIPS, READSHAW, ROCK, ROSS, SAINATO, SANTONI, SCAVELLO, SIPTROTH, K. SMITH, SOLOBAY, SWANGER, VULAKOVICH, WATERS AND WATSON, MARCH 9, 2010

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, MARCH 9, 2010  

A RESOLUTION

Recognizing April 16, 2010, as "National Healthcare Decisions

Day" in Pennsylvania.

WHEREAS, April 16 has been recognized across the nation as

"National Healthcare Decisions Day"; and

WHEREAS, The goal of "National Healthcare Decisions Day" is

to inform Americans about the importance of making their health

care wishes known to loved ones and their care providers; and

WHEREAS, Making advance health care decisions is important to

ensure that a person's choices for end-of-life treatment are

known and protected; and

WHEREAS, Studies indicate that most Americans have not

exercised their right to make decisions about their health care

in the event they cannot speak for themselves; and

WHEREAS, A 2006 study conducted by the Pew Research Center

indicated that 71% of Americans had thought about their end-of-

life treatment preferences and 95% of Americans had heard of a

living will, but only 29% of Americans had a living will; and

WHEREAS, "National Healthcare Decisions Day" is an initiative

that encourages citizens to express their wishes regarding

health care through conversations and the completion of advanced

directives; and

WHEREAS, Since the inaugural "National Healthcare Decisions

Day" on April 16, 2008, more than 1 million advance directive

forms have been requested from the National Hospice and

Palliative Care Organization's Caring Connections program; and

WHEREAS, Support for the initiative has increased since it

started in 2008, and national, state and community organizations

have embraced the call to action to help Americans understand

the importance of making and documenting health care decisions;

therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize April

16, 2010, as "National Healthcare Decisions Day" in

Pennsylvania.