May 1-5: Legal, health professionals implement Life Planning
programs
April 27, 2000 - Governor Tommy Thompson recently
signed a proclamation recognizing May 1-5 as statewide Life Planning
Week. He praised the efforts of the legal and medical professionals in
Wisconsin who have partnered to raise public awareness about the need to
plan for future medical care in times of non-crisis.
Life Planning
2000 is a statewide educational campaign to encourage the
public to discuss and document their preferences for medical treatment
before personal health crises arise. To do so, hundreds of volunteer
attorneys and health care professionals are "hitting the streets" in
nearly 50 communities statewide to deliver free workshops and
informational sessions on advance care planning.
Volunteers will distribute free "Gift to Your Family"
consumer guides -- a straightforward, easy-to-understand guide to aid
the public in completing advance directives. The guide is meant to
encourage conversation among family members and give people the tools
necessary to put their wishes in writing. This process can save families
the heartache of making treatment decisions on their loved ones' behalf
without knowing their wishes.
The consumer guide explains the advance directives recognized by
Wisconsin statutes -- the Power of Attorney for Health Care and the
Declaration to Physicians (Living Will). The guide also focuses on the
roles and responsibilities of a Health Care Agent, as well as organ and
tissue donation.
For information on Life Planning or events in your community, please
call Christi Powers at (608)
250-6025
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