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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The observance of National Healthcare Decisions |
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Week from April 16 to 22, 2017, is designed to raise awareness of |
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the importance of advance care planning; and |
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WHEREAS, Although the nation has made great strides in |
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providing end-of-life care, it has fallen short in ensuring that |
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terminally ill patients receive care that is in keeping with their |
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values, goals, and preferences; a 2014 report by the Institute of |
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Medicine called for significant reforms in this regard, emphasizing |
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that all individuals should have the opportunity to actively |
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participate in decisions about the care they receive in the last |
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stages of life; and |
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WHEREAS, Individuals can communicate their end-of-life |
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desires to health care providers by means of advance directives, |
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including living wills and durable powers of attorney; such |
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documents are a gift to loved ones, saving them from the struggle of |
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trying to divine wishes that were never expressed; and |
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WHEREAS, Many Texans have not prepared advance directives, |
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and the problem is particularly acute among Mexican Americans and |
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other minority populations; in Hidalgo County, which is more than |
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90 percent Hispanic, advocates are working to encourage timely |
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discussions of end-of-life wishes and to demystify the planning |
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process through La Conversacion Valiosa, a program presented in |
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conjunction with the Texas Health Institute; and |
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WHEREAS, This special week reminds Texans that the process of |
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communicating patient preferences should be initiated at the |
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earliest possible stage and that advance care directives should be |
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updated periodically to offer peace of mind to patients and loved |
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ones alike; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize April 16 to 22, 2017, as National |
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Healthcare Decisions Week and commend all those associated with La |
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Conversacion Valiosa for their efforts to facilitate advance care |
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planning. |
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Guerra |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 658 was adopted by the House on March |
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16, 2017, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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