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Public: Recent News

Knox Proctor accepts award from outgoing N.C. Medical Society President Darlyne Menscer. (Courtesy NCMS)

The N.C. Medical Society has honored attorneys James E. Creamer Jr. and E. Knox Proctor V for their successful efforts in improving the state’s advanced directive laws.

Proctor and Creamer, in turn, were quick to point out that they proudly accepted this recognition on behalf of the North Carolina Bar Association, especially its Elder Law, Estate Planning & Fiduciary Law and Health Law sections.

Presentation of the John Huske Anderson Award transpired Saturday night in conjunction with the NCMS Annual Meeting in Charlotte. Outgoing President Darlyne Menscer presented the award on behalf of the NCMS.

“We are extremely honored to accept the award on behalf of the North Carolina Bar Association,” Creamer said.  “Many members of the Elder Law, Estate Planning and Health Law sections worked very hard on this bill.  The original bill, Proctor added, was co-sponsored in the Senate by NCBA members Fletcher Hartsell and R.C. Soles, and the final bill was managed on the House floor by NCBA member Deborah Ross.

Creamer and Proctor cited the exemplary efforts of their drafting group: Lynn Chandler of Charlotte (Estate Planning), John Crill (Health Law) and Melanie Phelps (Health Law) of Raleigh, and Larry Rocamora (Estate Planning and Elder Law) of Durham. They also pointed out the extraordinary efforts of Doug Heron, the NCBA's Director of Governmental Affairs. 

Creamer noted that this legislation was a great joint effort with the North Carolina Medical Society, and that its members and staff worked equally as hard on this legislation and on the joint CLE/CME program sponsored earlier this month by the Association and the Society.  Dr. Darlyne Menscer participated from the first drafting efforts all the way through the legislative process.

House Bill 634, the advanced directives legislation was adopted by the General Assembly earlier this year and signed into law by Gov. Easley on July 31.  Its provisions became effective Oct. 1.

“In working with members and staff of the Medical Society on advanced directives legislation, Proctor and Creamer also helped to obtain passage of the MOST form, or Medical Orders for Scope of Treatment,” stated an NCMS press release. “All of their work came as volunteers of the North Carolina Bar Association.”

The release included laudatory statements from Dr. Menscer.

“Getting the advance directives and MOST legislation through the legislature was no small feat,” she said. “Due to the sensitivity of the subject matter, it was extremely difficult and challenging, and often downright frustrating. Yet Knox and Jim persevered, and North Carolina citizens now have a much better set of laws for dealing with tough medical decisions at the end of life.”

Creamer practices in Winston-Salem with Blanco Tackabery Combs & Matamoros, and Proctor practices with Ward and Smith in New Bern and in Raleigh.