The laws of this state ensure that you have a right to decide about your health care if you are a competent adult (18 years or older). You have a right to accept or refuse medical or surgical treatment. You have a right to have an explanation about medical or surgical treatment before you receive it.
If you are too ill or injured to decide about your health care options, others will choose for you.
The issue you have to decide is how much influence you want to exert when others choose for you.
Advance Medical Directives assist you in protecting your right to choose if you become physically or mentally unable to communicate your choices, due to an accident or illness. An Advance Directive could relieve your family and physician of the responsibility and stress of making difficult health care decisions without knowing clearly what you would have wanted. Advance Directives are of critical importance in light of the capacity of modern medical technology to extend life where formerly an individual might have died. The major concern with the use of medical technology to extend life is the quality of life.
Advance Directives Can Help You Choose:
• Who will be your doctor or other health care provider.
• Who can have access to your medical records. • What type of treatment you will or will not receive.
• Who will make decisions for you when you are unable to do so.
Advance Directives Can Help You Make Your Feelings and Wishes Known Regarding:
• Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)—used to restore breathing and/or a heartbeat.
• Respirators—used to keep you breathing.
• Dialysis—used to clean your blood when kidneys fail.
• Intravenous (IV) Therapy—used to provide nutrients and medication through a vein when you can no longer swallow.
• Feeding Tubes—used to provide nutrition through a nose tube when you can no longer eat.
There are generally five types of Advance Directive:
Living Will A living will is a written statement directing your health care provider to withhold or withdraw life-prolonging procedures if you should be diagnosed with a terminal condition and you lack the capacity to make a decision. A living will is limited to with-holding or withdrawing life-prolonging measures only when your condition is terminal; it does not apply to other health care decisions. It is wise to name a person (agent, guardian, etc.) to serve as your proxy when you sign your living will. Your proxy must carry out your wishes.
Durable Power of Attorney
A durable power of attorney is a legally enforceable, formal document in which you authorize another person to be your “attorney-in-fact” to make health care decisions when you are not able to do so. A power 13 of attorney document must be prepared and signed when you are competent. It will not be affected by your later disability or incapacity. It can address treatments you wish to withhold or receive. It can authorize your attorney-in-fact to make limited health care decisions on your behalf. A power of attorney statement is only operable when you cannot make your own health care decisions. It is not recognized in every state.
Health Care Representative or Agent
Some states allow you to name the person who will make your health care decisions when you are unable to make choices about them. This measure does not require court intervention. If you are competent you can make an oral (before two witnesses) or writ- ten statement declaring whom you want to be your agent. You can instruct your agent in as much or as little detail as you like about your wishes. You can give your agent limited or complete authority to make health care decisions on your behalf.
Guardian or Conservator
In some states a court will appoint a decision maker for you when you are unable to make health care choices. You have a right to nominate (name) the person you want to serve as your guardian or conservator. Most often the court will appoint the person you name. A guardianship or conservatorship becomes effective when you are unable to make decisions for yourself and after the court has appointed a person to serve as your guardian or conservator. If at any time you regain your ability to make decisions, you can ask the court to restore your rights and end the guardianship or conservatorship.
Mental Health Advance Directive
A few states allow you to sign an Advance Directive explaining your wishes about “intrusive” mental health treatment such as electroshock therapy or neuroleptic medication. You can declare the types of treatment that you do or do not want. You can name a proxy to decide for you. A Mental Health Advance Directive becomes effective only when you are not capable of giving your consent to treatment.
Azorna Healthcare Statement of Policy
It is the policy of Azorna Healthcare to implement your Advance Directives without exception. We will not discriminate against you whether you do or do not make Advance Directives. If you have made Advance Directives, your specific instructions will be recorded in your medical record. A note will be made in your medical record if you have not made Advance Directives.
Azorna Healthcare will provide you with a form to make Advance Directives and for you to appoint an agent. If you wish to sign a living will or give the power of attorney to someone, our social worker will assist you in this.
Our philosophy is to help you clarify your wishes related to health care decisions. Once you know what you would want, you can develop clear instructions for others who would carry out your wishes if you should become incapacitated and could no longer choose for yourself.