Gift of Life Michigan is applauding passage of the new Peace of Mind Registry, which will give citizens the opportunity to file their advance directives in a secure database that can be accessed by healthcare providers, when needed. The bill was signed by the governor Tuesday. 

State Senator Jim Marleau sponsored the bill: "Finally, we can have the peace of knowing our loved ones and health providers understand our wishes," he said Tuesday. "Creating the registry is a big first step and I would like to thank the Gift of Life Foundation for its generous support."

 

Under the new law, Gift of Life Michigan – the state’s federally designated organ and tissue recovery organization – anticipates it will create and maintain the Peace of Mind Registry in conjunction with the Michigan Department of Community Health. Gift of Life will operate the Registry at no expense to the state or taxpayers.

 

“Gift of Life is a natural fit to serve as the repository of this Registry,” said Richard Pietroski, the organization’s CEO. “We already operate a 24/7 communications center and have a dedicated line accessible to hospitals. Just as we are charged with the sacred trust of maintaining citizens’ ‘advance directive’ to be heroes to others through the Michigan Organ Donor Registry, we would provide the same for the Peace of Mind Registry.”

 

The new law, Public Act 179 of 2012, would allow citizens to upload their advance directives into a secure website, which they or their healthcare providers could access as needed. Advance directives are legal documents allowing individuals to specify patient advocates, religious preferences and other decisions about end-of-life care ahead of time.

 

The Gift of Life Foundation has allotted $150,000 to establish the Peace of Mind Registry, if Gift of Life receives the contract from the Department of Community Health.