The Supreme Court decision this week marks another critical step forward in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights. However, there is still so much more work to do. Our community faces unique challenges at the end of life, and unfortunately existing policies and practices often don’t reflect or respect our experiences and needs. For example, in NY if you have not completed a Health Care Proxy Form, the Family Health Care Decisions Act (FHCDA) dictates a hierarchy of family members who can make medical decisions on your behalf if you lose the ability to make decisions for yourself. But what if your family of origin is not in your life or not trusted to respect your wishes? It is critical to complete a NYS Health Care Proxy Form to designate someone you trust (family member, friend, neighbor…) to make decisions for you if you become injured or sick. We are available to help you complete the form.
At EOLCNY, we support and advocate for those planning ahead for the end of life, at the end of life, or caring for someone terminally ill. All of our services and resources are free to the public.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out- we’re here to help.
In solidarity,
Lillian Mehran, MPH, CHES
Director, Outreach & Education