Celebrate National Healthcare Decisions Day in April
April 11, 2016
In observance of National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD), April 16, the South Carolina Bar is leading a local initiative to increase awareness and understanding of advance care planning from both the legal and medical perspectives.
“With healthcare, your decisions matter most. However, others need to know what those wishes are to honor them,” said Cindy Coker, SC Bar Director of Public Services. “Advance directives give you the ability to document the types of healthcare you do or do not want and to name an agent to speak on your behalf if you cannot speak for yourself.”
In an effort to increase the total number of South Carolinians with advance directives, Governor Nikki Haley has signed a proclamation from the South Carolina Bar recognizing April 16, 2016 as Healthcare Decisions Day in South Carolina.
“[I] encourage all South Carolinians to work together with the medical and legal communities to ensure that an individual’s wishes for healthcare, particularly as it relates to end-of-life care, are prepared, protected and followed,” Gov. Haley said in the proclamation.
On April 13, in preparation for NHDD, the SC Bar will join with the SC medical community for an Advocacy Day at the statehouse in Columbia from 9 a.m. to noon. Sample healthcare power of attorney and living will forms will be available to aid legislators in educating their constituents.
To consult an attorney in preparing advance care planning documents at any time, call the SC Bar Lawyer Referral Service at 1-800-868-2284. More information about NHDD and free tools to create these forms are available online at www.nhdd.org.
“While making healthcare decisions is often difficult in the best of circumstances, making decisions for others is even more complicated,” said Coker. “That’s why I would encourage everyone, young or old, to use April 16 to decide, discuss and document your healthcare wishes, whatever they may be.”
About the South Carolina Bar
The SC Bar, which has a membership of more than 15,000 lawyers, is dedicated to advancing justice, professionalism and understanding of the law.
