By Mark Scott
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wbfo/local-wbfo-891183.mp3
Albany, NY – Governor David Paterson signed a bill Tuesday that will give family, guardians or partners the power to make medical decisions for incapacitated patients -- even if the patient never signed paperwork detailing their wishes.
Only 20 percent of patients have signed proxies, complicating decisions on care, especially for the terminally ill. That can mean extended suffering for some patients.
Univera Healthcare's Vice President of Geriatrics, Patricia Bomba, supports the new law. She says it's still beneficial to have a healthcare proxy. It's estimated that each year, about 75,0000 people die in New York without a health care proxy and lacking the capacity to make their own health care decisions.
Bomba says this law has been under discussion for 17 years, which made Tuesday's signing especially gratifying for her and other patient advocates.
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