2023 House Resolution 77

Whereas, National Healthcare Decisions Day is April 16, 2023, and is designed to raise public awareness of the need to plan ahead for healthcare decisions related to end-of-life care and medical decision-making whenever patients are unable to speak for themselves and to encourage the specific use of advance directives to communicate these important healthcare decisions; and

Whereas, It is estimated that only about 20 percent of people in Michigan have executed an advance directive, in part due to a lack of knowledge about advance directives and considerable public confusion arising from advance directives that are often written in difficult to understand legal and medical terms; and

Whereas, Easy-to-understand advance directives that are written in plain language, such as those provided by Five Wishes and distributed by the non-profit organization Aging with Dignity, are desirable because they enable completion and foster important family discussions; and

Whereas, Because Five Wishes is available in 30 languages, citizens of our ethnic and culturally diverse state can state their wishes about comfort, dignity, and the personal, family, and spiritual issues that matter most; and

Whereas, Michigan citizens can complete an advanced directive and submit it to the statewide registry called Peace of Mind; and

Whereas, One of the principal goals of Healthcare Decisions Day is to encourage hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, continuing care retirement communities, and hospices to participate in a statewide effort to provide clear and consistent information to the public about advance directives and increase the number of Michigan residents with advance directives; and

Whereas, Many of the Michigan healthcare, business, faith based groups, and senior services organizations have demonstrated commendable leadership in furthering patient and caregiver-focused advance care planning, and are committed to educating the public about the importance of discussing healthcare choices and completing advance directives; and

Whereas, As a result of April 16, 2023, being recognized as Healthcare Decisions Day throughout Michigan, more citizens will have conversations about their healthcare decisions; more citizens will execute advance directives to make their wishes known; and fewer families and healthcare providers will have to struggle with making difficult healthcare decisions in the absence of guidance from the patient; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the members of this legislative body declare April 16, 2023, as Healthcare Decisions Day in the state of Michigan. We call this observance to the attention of all citizens.