End-of-Life Care

Passed with broad, bipartisan support in 1999 and signed into law by then-Gov. George W. Bush, the state’s Advance Directives Act has been a model for the nation since its inception. Despite broad agreement that the law generally works well, Right-to-Life advocates are seeking changes that would ensure continuation of life support indefinitely if requested by the patient and/or family members, even if further treatment is of no benefit, as determined by the physician and medical ethics panel. Intended to help guide families and health care providers in one of life’s most difficult times, the law should be preserved, although improvements and clarifications may be appropriate.