[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 391 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







108th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 391

Designating the second week of December 2004 as ``Conversations Before 
                           the Crisis Week''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             June 24, 2004

  Mr. Nelson of Florida submitted the following resolution; which was 
               referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Designating the second week of December 2004 as ``Conversations Before 
                           the Crisis Week''.

Whereas 2,400,000 people in the United States die each year;
Whereas research shows that a majority of people in the United States would 
        prefer to die at home, surrounded by family and other loved ones, free 
        from pain, and with their wishes honored;
Whereas only 30 percent of people in the United States living with life-limiting 
        illness experience the interdisciplinary care that hospice provides to 
        patients and their caregivers;
Whereas studies have shown that too many people do not get the care they want, 
        with 70 percent dying in hospitals and nursing homes suffering 
        needlessly from high levels of pain due to poor pain and symptom 
        management;
Whereas individuals need to have more information and support in order to make 
        informed choices and share these end-of-life care wishes with their 
        families, doctors, lawyers, and clergy;
Whereas all people in the United States have the ability to make their end-of-
        life care wishes clear through the execution of an advance directive, 
        which includes a living will describing the kind of care they would like 
        to receive and the appointment of a health care agent or proxy to speak 
        for them if they cannot speak for themselves;
Whereas only 15 to 20 percent of people in the United States currently have an 
        advance directive and most do not know that there are options for good 
        pain and symptom management and quality end-of-life care, and thus do 
        not ask for them;
Whereas honoring a dying person's preferences is a critical element of quality 
        end-of-life care and the right of all people in the United States;
Whereas advance directive documents are valid in all 50 states and are available 
        without charge on the Internet;
Whereas a ``Conversations Before the Crisis Week'', and activities planned to 
        support this week, would encourage family members to designate time 
        during the week to talk to their loved ones about their personal end-of-
        life wishes and to document those wishes formally through the completion 
        of a living will and appointing a medical power of attorney; and
Whereas the Senate believes educating people in the United States about end-of-
        life care choices and encouraging conversations about these issues 
        before there is a medical crisis is of the utmost importance: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) designates the second week of December 2004 as 
        `Conversations Before the Crisis Week'; and
            (2) requests that the President issue a proclamation 
        calling on the people of the United States to observe the week 
        with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
                                 <all>