Wrap: An advance directive is a document that gives instructionsto doctors on how to treat an unresponsive person. It lets someone who can’tcommunicate still decide their own medical care or pick a person to make thosechoices.

The newly signed bill will create a statewide, onlineregistry of advance directives and allow healthcare providers to access them.

“You know, on the whole subject matter, it’s a difficultdecision, and if you can make it for your family before that time comes, youshould have every tool and advantage to relieve them of that pain and of thatissue. It’s hard.”

That’s St. Louis County Senator Gina Walsh, who introducedthe bill after her husband Jim passed away in 2006.

The advance directive registry was passed with other medicallegislation in the Missouri General Assembly’s regular session. The whole billis posted on kmox dot com.

Jack Morrisroe. Newsradio 1120 (eleven twenty) K-M-O-X

Wrap: This year, Missouri created a statewide, online registry fordocuments to determine healthcare choices for unresponsive victims.

Democratic Senator Gina Walsh said her husband Jim was in asituation that required an advance directive or her approval. The lack of astated choice made her decision difficult.

“You know, if he’d had one and they didn’t have it there, andit was somewhere else, they wouldn’t have had that information, and as it was,they waited until I got there to make the decision and I’ll tell ya, I don’twish that on anybody.”

Missouri will join thirteen states that also have statewideadvance directive registries, as of July twenty-sixteen.

There currently is a nationwide registry for advancedirectives and some states have built their systems through the US Living WillRegistry.

Jack Morrisroe. Newsradio 1120 (eleven twenty) K-M-O-X