Attorney General's News Release

July 28, 2006

Lawyer for Nancy Cruzan family to headline annual summit on end-of-life issues

Jefferson City, Mo. — Bill Colby, the lawyer who represented the family of Nancy Cruzan in her right-to-die case, will be the keynote speaker at an annual summit on end-of-life issues in Jefferson City. The Missouri End-of-Life Coalition, Attorney General Jay Nixon and others are hosting the event for policymakers, healthcare providers, educators and others interested in Missouri laws surrounding advance directives, living wills and other issues.

The day-long End-of-Life policy summit is Aug. 25, beginning at 8:30 a.m., in Hermitage Hall at the Truman Hotel and Convention Center (formerly Ramada Inn), 1510 Jefferson St., in Jefferson City. Attorney General Nixon will speak at 8:45 a.m., followed by Colby at 9 a.m. Other experts will discuss end-of-life policy, pain management, communicating with loved ones and healthcare providers, nutrition and hydration. State legislators attending the summit will hold a policy discussion panel at 1 p.m.

The policy summit is intended to encourage Missourians to make decisions about the end of life and put them in writing. The summit will also assess whether Missouri laws are adequate to protect consumers and address that need. Summit participants will leave the meeting with specific steps they can take over the next year to impact end-of-life policy in Missouri.

“All adults in Missouri need to take the time to decide what kind of medical care they would want if they're unable to speak for themselves,” Nixon said. “The tragedies of Cruzan, Terri Schiavo and others underscore the need for these decisions to be made and documented in advance.”

The Attorney General offers a publication called Life Choices, which helps walk Missourians through the legal and personal issues involved with end-of-life decision making. Life Choices was put together by Nixon's office and the Missouri End-of-Life Coalition. The publication is available at no charge by contacting Nixon's office at 1-800-392-8222 or www.ago.mo.gov/publications/lifechoices/lifechoices.htm.

Lunch will be provided. To register or get additional information on the summit, contact the End-of-Life Coalition at 573-635-4999 or abickel@mo-endoflife.org.

Read Life Choices Publication    html format | pdf format

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