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Hospice 'End of Life' Care Bill Moves Along in the Ky. General Assembly

Kentucky Assoc. of Hospice and Palliative Care/http://www.kah.org/

Legislation to make end of life decisions clear to all pertinent care givers is moving through the Kentucky general assembly. This is the third time the matter has come before state lawmakers.

The medical orders for scope of treatment or MOST document is similar to a living will. The bill passed the Kentucky Senate last week. Typically, it would be used by terminal patients to outline their plan of care. Brandy Cantor, with the Kentucky Association of Hospice and Palliative Care, says paperwork would stay with the patient at all times.

"This puts it all in a one page succinct document that travels with the patient across their health care settings and is in the medical record," Cantor said. "It's usually on a highly visible, colored form, so that's it's very clear and concise and can be reached very quickly."

Cantor says similar legislation has passed the Kentucky House previously. Senate Bill Sponsor Tom Buford says a similar bill failed to pass his chamber last session. The Jessamine County lawmaker says supporters in the senate wanted to move quicker on the measure this session.

Stu Johnson is a reporter/producer at WEKU in Lexington, Kentucky.
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