Profession
AMA encourages patient action on end-of-life-care issues
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Dec. 27, 2004
Noting that fewer than 30% of Americans have created legal documents on how they want to handle end-of-life care, doctors gathered at the AMA's Interim Meeting in Atlanta in December encouraged all physicians and their families to complete a durable power of attorney for health care, as well as an advance directive.
Doctors also called for the Association to work with Congress and the Dept. of Health and Human Services to educate the public about the importance of the documents. Physicians want to see medical schools educate students and residents about the issue, to have the AMA create strategies that doctors could use to encourage patients to create documents and to have the AMA and state and medical societies come together to work to correct technical problems on the issue that may be present in some states.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2004/12/27/prbf1227.htm.
