A Proclamation by His Excellency Governor Ageo Paul Cellucci
The following is the text of a proclamation Gov. Paul Cellucci will make on November 26, 1999, establishing this date as Massachusetts Health Care Proxy Day.

Whereas: The number of Massachusetts Citizens – including health care professionals—who posses health care proxies is distressingly low, resulting in patients not receiving the type of care they would want at the end of their lives.

Whereas: The Massachusetts Medical Society and other interested organizations and invividuals are working to increase the number of people who posses a health care proxy, a simple document designating a trusted relative or friend to make health care decisions for them if they are unable to make them for themselves; and

Whereas: A health care proxy increases the likelihood of a person receiving the type of end-of-life care that is consistent with his or her beliefs and values;

Now, therefore, I, Governor Argeo Paul Cellucci, Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, do hereby proclaim November 26, 1999 to be Health Care Proxy Day and urge Massachusetts citizens to discuss end-of-life decision-making on or about this day with a relative or friend, with the goal of creating a health care proxy.

Completing a proxy is a simple three-step process:

1. Designate an agent
2. Talk to him or her about your health care wishes
3. Fill out a health care proxy form and distribute it to all your health care providers.

To receive an information packet on health care proxies, call the Massachusetts Medical Society at 800.843.6356.  Or visit our website: www.healthcareproxy.org