Lead By Example
Choose Your Health Care Agent Today!!
By Margaret Mahoney, PhD, RN, CS

Governor Paul Cellucci has designated Friday, November 26, 1999 as Massachusetts Health Care Proxy Day.  The MNA has been working closely with members of the Mass. Medical Society’s Committee on Advance Directives to enhance awareness of the importance of making health care preferences known to a significant other and health care providers, before an illness or crisis occurs.  Because most of us will spend Thanksgiving with people who are close to us, this holiday is an opportunity to “talk turkey” with our loved ones about the type of medical care that we would want at the end of life. 

As nurses, we are the ones at the bedside, caring for patients who are terminally ill.  We know, firsthand, about suffering and pain, and about when it is appropriate to withhold or withdraw aggressive medical interventions.  We are capable advocates for our patients, friends, and families, but to whom have you communicated what you would want if you were no longer able to speak on your own behalf?  Would your physician support your decisions? Would your family agree with your choice?

Having a health care proxy increases the likelihood that a person will receive the type of end of life care that is consistent with his or her values and beliefs.  When we make our preferences known, it eases the burden of “life and death” decision making for our loved ones.  We can prevent family conflict in times of crisis.  Having a health care proxy in place allows us to reframe negative choices, to channel our energies in a direction that demonstrates respect for the beliefs of the person for whom medical care is futile.  It is difficult to have these conversations, but we have all seen what can happen when there is no proxy to make decisions, or no advance directives to guide our actions.  This is your opportunity to write your own “Patients Bill of Rights,” and know that your wishes will be carried out at the end of your life. 

How You Can Set An Example 

Health Care Proxy Day gives us all an opportunity to think about our own preferences for care, and share them with our designated agent.  The next step is to fill out a health care proxy form, and distributed it to your health care providers.  There are no legal fees required, and you do not need to spell out specific advance directives.  You have a conversation about what is most important to you, so that health care decisions may be made in your best interest, and in the context of your health care situation.  We hope that when health care providers have had this conversation with those who share their values, that they may be more comfortable and credible, when talking with patients and their families about end of life care. 

The members of the Center for Ethics and Human Rights will have a table at Convention, offering information packets that contain the health care proxy form, a values questionnaire, and some educational literature about health care proxies.  There will be a ceremony at the State House on November 26th, and events are being planned in Worcester in Springfield. Hospitals and health care organizations are being contacted to sponsor local events for Health Care Proxy Day.  The Student Nurses Association has endorsed this as educational opportunity for their peers.  If you are interested in helping with this effort, or sponsoring an event that promotes awareness of proxies and end of life care, please contact Margaret Mahoney, MNA representative for this project, at 617-373-3108, or visit the web site: www.healthcareproxy.org. 

Members of the MNA enjoy many benefits: professional development, legislative advocacy, peer support, and group insurance.  Health Care Proxy Day is another effort at future planning, and a way to ensure that nurses enjoy the same quality of life that we all strive to provide for our patients.  So, as you celebrate Thanksgiving, please take the time to “talk turkey” to your loved ones about the type of medical care that you would want if some day you are incapable of communicating your wishes.  As a health care professional, you know the care you would want.  Someday, the closest to you will be “thankful” that you have informed them.  Set a good example for your family, friends and patients.  If you don’t complete a health care proxy, will they?

Click here to view the proclamation Gov. Paul Cellucci will make on November 26, 1999, establishing this date as Massachusetts Health Care Proxy Day.