ALBANY, N.Y., March 12 – Legislation establishing a Health Care Proxy Registry in the Department of Health is before both houses of the New York State Legislature.

The purpose of the legislation, according to Assemblyman Steven Englebright (D-Suffolk), Assembly sponsor, is to establish a central location for maintaining " and making accessible to attending physicians and health care providers " voluntarily submitted health care proxies within the Department of Health. It also authorizes the Department of Health to promulgate regulations necessary to implement the provisions of the measure.

Recent events related to end of life decisions have raised the consciousness of New Yorkers regarding such matters, Englebright said. He added that the need for individuals to make their wishes concerning their health care known under circumstances where the individuals are incapable of making their own end of life decisions is paramount to avoiding unnecessary litigation and family strife.

Therefore, Englebright said, it is important for the state of New York to establish a registry for health care proxies. The Department of Health currently provides individuals with health care proxy forms and instructions for duly perfecting such proxies. It makes sense to take one further step to require the department to accept and maintain health care proxies within the department, as well as to provide copies of such proxies to attending physicians and health care providers.

The Senate bill is sponsored by Senator Kemp Hannon (R-Nassau).