The Missouri Bar
If you were in the hospital and couldn’t speak, who would be your voice? Would they know what your health care wishes are?
No one likes talking about death or end-of-life matters, but on April 16, The Missouri Bar is encouraging individuals to do just that as part of National Healthcare Decisions Day.
NHDD has existed since 2008 to inspire, educate, and empower the public and medical providers about the importance of advance care planning. To help Missourians express their wishes regarding health care – and help providers and facilities to respect those choices – The Missouri Bar provides free Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care and Health Care Directive forms year round.
“Sometimes legal forms and procedures can seem complicated and overwhelming. That’s why The Missouri Bar is here to help make the process as simple, clear, and accessible as possible,” said Athena Dickson, 2025-2026 Missouri Bar president. “Please take advantage of these free planning resources, so you can have peace of mind and be prepared for the future.”
These forms allow individuals to record their choices for care, including decisions on life-prolonging procedures and organ donation. Individuals can also outline who they want to carry out their health care wishes.
To learn more about NHDD and how you can complete your Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care and Health Care Directive form, go to MissouriLawyersHelp.org.