New York Bills to Promote Advance Directives

Taking a lead from recent legislation aimed at increasing organ donation rates by using people's contact with the DMV, several new New York bills aim at increasing advance directive completion rates in the same way.  One New York bill (SB 2350) would require the DMV to include health proxy forms with driver and vehicle registration renewal mailings.  Another (A.B. 4901) provides a space right on the drivers license for the proxy's contact information.  





I really like this second bill.  Several states already operate "next-of-kin registries," including Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio.  In my neighborhood, Delaware and New Jersey, just started or authorized NOKR's earlier this year.   But these registries all operate completely independently of advance directives.  The person who you designate as NOK (to be notified by police in case of an accident) may not also be your authorized healthcare agent.  Moreover, even if they were, proof of that status cannot come from the NOK designation.