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HRES 217 109th Congress House Health Constitutional amendments Families Law Living wills Patients' rights Power of attorney

Supporting the rights of individuals to make medical decisions as guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution and encouraging all Americans to set forth their wishes in living wills…

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Supporting the rights of individuals to make medical decisions as guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution and encouraging all Americans to set forth their wishes in living wills that designate health care surrogates and in other advance directives.

Introduced: April 14, 2005 See on congress.gov
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This resolution expired with the 109th Congress
It was not agreed to before the 109th Congress (2005–2006) adjourned, so it is no longer active. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 4 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Agreed to (House)
May 10, 2005
Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution.
Apr 22, 2005
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Apr 14, 2005
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Apr 14, 2005
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Reaffirms the rights of individuals to make medical decisions as guaranteed under the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution.

Urges all Americans to: (1) set forth their health care wishes in living wills that designate health care surrogates or in other advance directives; and (2) talk to their families about preferences for medical treatment in the event they are incapable of making informed health care decisions.

What's happening now May 10, 2005

Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 4
 Cosponsors 2
All 2 Democratic 2
D
McGovern, James P.
Massachusetts · Apr 20, 2005
 D
Wasserman Schultz, Debbie
Florida · Apr 20, 2005
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H. Res. 217: Supporting the rights of individuals to make medical decisions as guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution and encouraging all Americans to set forth their wishes in living wills that designate health care surrogates and in other advance directives.. 109th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HRES-217/
MLA
"H. Res. 217: Supporting the rights of individuals to make medical decisions as guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution and encouraging all Americans to set forth their wishes in living wills that designate health care surrogates and in other advance directives.." 109th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HRES-217/.
Bluebook (legal)
H. Res. 217, 109th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HRES-217/.
Markdown link
[H. Res. 217: Supporting the rights of individuals to make medical decisions as guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution and encouraging all Americans to set forth their wishes in living wills that designate health care surrogates and in other advance directives.](https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HRES-217/)
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