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Have you ever considered what would happen if you were terminally ill or in an accident and no longer able to communicate? What kind of medical care would you want and how much?
Most of us are uncomfortable with thoughts of this kind and have not taken the time to answer questions such as these. However, thinking about these decisions and discussing them with family and friends are important.
A way to make these decisions known to your physician is through documents called "advance directives." These documents state your choices for health care, or appoint someone to make those choices for you if you are unable to do so.
Among the several types of Advance Directives are:
- A document appointing a health care representative, who makes medical treatment decisions for you when you are no longer able. This representative acts under the conditions spelled out in writing by you, and the document must be witnessed by another adult.
- A living will declaration, which tells physicians how much treatment you want to have should your condition be terminal and you are unable to communicate your wishes. With an emphasis on limiting treatment, the living will must be in writing, and there must be two adult witnesses.
- A life prolonging procedures declaration, which tells health care providers that you want everything possible to be done to prolong your life, regardless of your terminal condition. It also must be in writing, and there must be two adult witnesses.
- These first three advance directives can be prepared at St.Vincent. Call Pastoral Care, 338-2238, for assistance.
- A durable power of attorney, which is another option allowed under Indiana law. This document identifies the person you wish to make health care decisions for you. Unlike the health care representative, who may only make health care decisions, the person to whom you have given power of attorney may also make personal and financial decisions for you. The decision-making power of this individual must be in writing and witnessed by a notary public.
- The Patient Self-Determination Act, introduced in Congress in October 1989 and passed in Congress in October 1990, went into effect on Dec. 1, 1991. This act requires hospitals, nursing facilities and other health care organizations to inform patients about advance directives by giving them written information at the time they are admitted. If the patient has executed such a document, the signed document will then become a part of the patient's medical file for that admission only.
- For years, fewer than 10 percent of all Americans had executed an advance directive. But with the new law, both the young and old will be encouraged to put their health care wishes in writing while they are still healthy and able to make these decisions.
If you have questions or concerns regarding advance directives, we encourage you to talk with your physician and loved ones. Even if you have been admitted to St.Vincent previously, we will need a current copy of your advance directive. Situations and wishes change, so the hospital cannot assume that advance directives are valid from one admission to another.
If you need additional information about how to execute an advance directive, please contact the Pastoral Care Department at (317) 338-2238. After business hours, please ask your nurse to page the hospital chaplain |
