Attorney General's News Release

July 26, 2005

End of Life Coalition, Nixon to host summit examining state policies on advance directives, end-of-life issues

Jefferson City, Mo. — The Missouri End of Life Coalition and Attorney General Jay Nixon are partnering with the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization and Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder to host a statewide event in October for legislators and other policy makers to review Missouri's laws surrounding advance directives, living wills and other end-of-life issues. The Coalition and the Attorney General previously partnered on the publication Life Choices (PDF file or html format), a resource to help Missourians learn about end-of-life resources and planning.

The End of Life Coalition is also hosting seven regional town hall meetings across Missouri in the three months leading up to the summit, beginning with a meeting in Springfield on Thursday, July 28. During these regional meetings, the coalition and its partners will take public feedback on end-of-life issues, which will be included in policy discussions at the October event.

"There is an ongoing need to remind Missourians of the importance of planning ahead and making their wishes for medical care known," Nixon says. "We also need to make sure Missouri's laws adequately address the needs and values of the people of our state on this critical issue."

The daylong statewide policy summit will be held on Oct. 6, beginning at 9 a.m., at the Ramada Inn, 1510 Jefferson St., in Jefferson City.

The regional town hall meetings will be held in these locations on these dates:

• Springfield: July 28, 3-8 p.m., Greene County Library Center, 4653 S. Campbell
• Lee's Summit: Aug. 13, 9 a.m.-noon, John Knox Village Pavilion, 520 NW Murray Road
• Kansas City: Aug. 13, 1-4 p.m., Kansas City Public Library — Waldo Community Branch, 201 E. 75th St.
• Kansas City: Aug. 13, 1-4 p.m., Mid-Continent Public Library, 8656 N. Ambassador
• St. Louis: Aug. 13, 10-11:30 a.m., St. Louis Public Library — Schlafly Branch, 225 N. Euclid
• Jefferson City: Sept. 8, 7-8:30 p.m. Missouri River Regional Library, 214 Adams St.

An additional town hall meeting also will be held in Columbia, with the date and location to be announced soon. For more information on the regional events or the statewide summit, e-mail Ann Corley, of the Missouri End of Life Coalition, or call her at 816-525-4739.

Inquiries from consumers should be directed to consumer@ago.mo.gov or 1-800-392-8222 (from within Missouri) or 573-751-3321 (outside Missouri).

All media inquiries should be directed to Press Secretary John Fougere.

E-mail      Phone: 573-751-8844         Fax: 573-751-5818