COMMENTARIES ON ACT 169 OF 2006:

• Beaver County (PA) Times:

• "Preparing for the end", by Bob Bauder, Times Staff (01/25/07).

• Centre Daily Times (State College, PA):

• "No living will? Pa. law will decide who makes decisions for you", by Jennifer C. Yates (Associated Press, 01/28/07).
• "Who Should Be Making End-of-Life Decisions?", by Nancy Kranich of the Public Issues Forums of Centre County Steering Committee (01/29/07).
• Synopsis: "No longer are life- and-death decisions made just by individuals and their families. Doctors, lawyers, insurance companies, politicians and judges have stepped into this highly personal arena. As a society, we share an interest in determining what options are available, how they are accessed, and what rules are followed."

• Citizen's Voice (Wilkes-Barre, PA):

• "Law addresses end-of-life care", by Heidi Ruckno (01/29/07).

• Intelligencer Journal (Lancaster, PA):
  

• "New Pennsylvania living will legislation", by Patti S. Spencer (01/22/07).

• Marshall, Jeffrey A.:

• "Understanding Act 169: A Professional's Guide to Living Wills and Advance Health Care Powers of Attorney in Pennsylvania"

• Newswise:
  

• "New Pennsylvania Law Defines End-of-life Care Decision Making Process", from a press release issued by the Pennsylvania Medical Society (01/22/07).
  

• Op-Ed News:

• "Only Humans Should Suffer: The End-of-Life Double Standard", by Mary Shaw (01/30/07).
  

• Penn State Daily Collegian(State College, PA):

• "New law grants spouses priority", by Emma Straley (02/06/07).
• Synopsis: "While end-of-life care is not a pressing issue for most Penn State students, a new Pennsylvania law on living wills will affect anyone who is suddenly unable to make life decisions. * * * [S]tudents should give thought to exactly what they want concerning their end-of-life decisions so problems don't arise."

• Pennsylvania Medical Society:
  

  • "My Patient and I . . . ", by Christopher M. Hughes, M.D., Critical Care Specialist, Pittsburgh, PA, & a Trustee of the Society.
  • "New Legislation a Major Step Forward for Advance Health Care Directives and Health Care Decision-Making for Incompetent Patients" (11/30/06)
  • "Quick Facts on Act 169" (11/30/06), including:
  • Advance health care directives
  • Execution requirements
  • Key definitions
  • Living wills
  • Health care agents and representatives
  • Additional issues

• Post-Gazette (Pittsburgh, PA):

• "End-of-life decisions require detailed plans", by Jan Warner & Jan Collins (02/18/07).
  
• "Advocates Praise PA. End-of-Life Law, But Want More Protections", by Gary Rotstein (12/04/06).
• "Everyone Dies: Pennsylvania's Act 169 will help prepare us for the last 'measure of our days'", by Clarke Thomas, Senior Editor (01/27/07) -- "[A]s someone now in his 80s, I feel I can raise the end-of-life issue. And, fortunately, a new law, Act 169, passed by the Pennsylvania Legislature and taking effect Monday can be a help."

• Public Opinion(Chambersburg, PA):
  

• "Our view: Make a living will before it's too late", by Kathy Leedy, written on behalf of Public Opinion's editorial board (01/30/07).

• Sentinel(Carlisle, PA):
  

• "End of life law goes into effect today, prompting tough decisions", by John Hilton (01/29/07).

• Sun-Gazette(Williamsport, PA):
  

• "State law that takes effect today defines who makes decisions for the terminally ill", by Mike Reuther (01/30/07).

• Times-Tribune (Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, PA):

• "New law guides medical decisions", by David Falcheck (04/22/2007).
  

• Tribune-Review (Pittsburgh, PA):

• "Easing the way for hard choices", by Allison M. Heinrichs (01/29/07).