Along with a new look to the website, we have revised the Catholic Health Directive and Guide. The changes are mostly cosmetic and, hopefully, more user-friendly. If you have a health care directive based on the old form, there is no reason to complete a new directive.

Two changes to North Dakota's health care directives law go into effect August 1, 2007.
Senate Bill 2212 eliminates the requirement that hospitals and long-term care centers provide additional counseling and paperwork when a patient or resident appoints a health care agent.
The new law does not require any changes to the Catholic Health Care Directive produced by the North Dakota Catholic Conference. The separate addendum produced by the conference for those instances when a resident or patient appoints a health care agent will no longer be needed.
If your facility is using the statutory optional form, the last two sections of the existing form will now become unnecessary. You can ignore or block out those sections of the form.
Another passed bill, Senate Bill 2308, allows an individual to authorize a health care agent to speak for the individual even if he or she still has the capacity to communicate. Senate Bill 2308 does not require changes to either the Catholic Health Care Directive or the optional statutory form.

The diocesan Respect Life Office will offer a second series of End-of-Life Workshops this spring. Father Dale Kinzler, pastor of Church of the Nativity in Fargo and health care liaison for the Diocese of Fargo, will present on the Catholic Church’s teaching regarding nutrition and hydration, understanding the differences between ordinary and extraordinary care, and how to make moral health care decisions. Christopher Dodson, North Dakota Catholic Conference executive director, will offer a Catholic approach to preparing a Health Care Directive. Father Joseph Goering, Diocese of Fargo chancellor, will present the Catholic Church’s theological and pastoral practice for cremation and funerals.

Dates and locations are: Monday, March 20, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at St. Philip Neri Parish, 401 Broadway, Napoleon; Tuesday, March 21, 6:30-9:30 p.m. at the Basilica of St. James, 622 1st Ave. S., Jamestown.

All events are open to the public. Free will offering will be taken. For more information, contact Rachelle Sauvageau at (701) 356-7910 or e-mail: rachelle.sauvageau@fargodiocese.org.

We have added several new "Frequently Asked Questions" and responses to the Catholic Health Care Directives Frequently Asked Questions page. Some of these FAQs concern the use of health care directives in other states.

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