End-of-Life Registry Opens Jan. 1

YouNews™

Story Created: Nov 28, 2006 at 4:55 PM MST

Story Updated: Dec 1, 2006 at 6:17 PM MST

By Thanh Tan

Video

Next year, doctors will be able to access their patients' living wills and durable power of attorney within seconds.

Beginning Jan. 1, 2007, Idahoans can register their advance directives-- which can include a living will and durable power of attorney-- with the secretary of state's office. Lawmakers passed a bill to provide this service earlier this year, in hopes it will help families and doctors deal with tough decisions that come toward the end of life.

Peggy Munson has seen her 92 year-old mother Delphine Pike survive one illness after another. They have decided they will sign up for the registry when it becomes available after the new year.

Should she ever be hospitalized again, Delphine has made her wishes clear through her living will and durable power of attorney papers.

"If I die. I die. I don't want any machines on me," Delphine said.

It's a discussion no one wants to talk about, but Peggy Munson says it should not be avoided.

"The thing about it is these are my mother's wishes. So we're carrying out what my mother wants done and that's very important," Munson said. "This is making a will about your life and your end of life-- how you really want things to go at the very end."

If something were to happen to Delphine while Peggy is away, she says doctors would be able to access her mother's information online from any computer.

"That's the whole thing-- ease in getting things done," said AARP Idaho State Director Jim Wordelman.

A recent survey by the BSU Center for the Study of Aging and A Better Way Coalition shows 80 percent of respondents actually want family or close friends to initiate a discussion about end-of-life issues.

For more information about the secretary of state's registry, visit A Better Way Coalition's web site.

Current Weather

Current Temp 35 °F

Light Rain Fog/Mist

Video

More Weather

Current Weather

More Weather

YouNews

This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.