NY pols OK bill to let families make medical choices

ALBANY - New York lawmakers approved legislation yesterday giving family, guardians or partners the ability to make medical decisions for incapacitated patients, even if they don't have a health care proxy signed by the patient. Gov. David A. Paterson said he will sign the bill.

Lawmakers said only 20 percent of patients have proxies, complicating decisions on care, especially for the terminally ill. It can mean extended suffering when doctors perform extraordinary measures to prolong life based on the presumption they should.

The measure says decisions will be based on the patient's best interests, including their moral or religious beliefs. Decisions to stop life-sustaining treatment will be authorized only when two doctors independently conclude that a patient isn't expected to live for six more months, regardless of whether treatment is provided. - AP