ADVANCE DIRECTIVES

WHAT IS AN ADVANCE DIRECTIVE?

It is a document that states what medical procedures you want done in case you have a serious illness or accident and are unable to speak for yourself. An advanced directive can be used in two ways. You can specify which medical procedures you do or do not want performed in the form of a Living Will. Or you can appoint a relative or friend, called a Health Care Proxy, to make decisions for you giving them Durable Power of Attorney. Each state has its own law and sometimes its own form, Alabama’s Advance Directive form includes both a Living Will and Health Care Proxy which can be printed from the Alabama Hospital Association website at www.alaha.org.

WHAT IS A LIVING WILL?

This is a document that expresses the types of life-sustaining care (feeding tube, ventilator, etc…) you would want only if you had a terminal condition. It does not give anyone the authority to make all health care decisions.

WHAT IS A DURABLE POWER OF ATTORNEY?

It is a document that appoints a proxy, along with your physician, to make health care decisions for you. They are able to tell the physician and hospital exactly the care you would want in all health decisions, not just life sustaining treatment.

WHO CAN BE A PROXY?

It is usually a spouse, relative or friend. They must be at least 19 years old and someone you trust.

WHEN DOES THE PROXY BEGIN MAKING DECISIONS?

Before you are declared “unable” to make decisions on your own, two physicians
must declare that you no longer have capacity, are terminally ill or permanently unconscious.

DOES THE PERSON I APPOINT AS MY FINANCIAL DURABLE POWER OF ATTORNEY MAKE MY HEALTH CARE DECISIONS?

Yes, only if you have granted them that responsibility.

IMPORTANT ISSUES TO DISCUSS WITH YOUR PROXY

1. How you feel about illness, dying, and death
2. If you want the following treatments, and if so, for how long and under what conditions:
1. Ventilator
2. Artificial feeding
3. Dialysis
4. Resuscitation
3. Life-sustaining measures in the event of terminal illness, permanent coma or
irreversible chronic illness
4. Personal faith
5. Who to notify when the end is near
6. Where you wish to die
7. Organ donation

WHY SHOULD I HAVE AN ADVANCE DIRECTIVE?

It allows you to make your wishes clear to health care providers, family, friends, while you are mentally competent. An advance directive helps ensure that your wishes will be followed.

WHICH DOCUMENT IS RIGHT FOR ME?

If you do not have a proxy, or your designated proxy becomes incapacitated or dies, then you must use a Living Will. A Durable Power of Attorney can avoid guardianship proceedings in court. Either way, the decision is yours to make.

WHAT IF I CHANGE MY MIND ABOUT MY WISHES?

They can be revoked or changed at any time if you do any of the following:
1. Tear, burn, destroy the document
2. Write and sign a cancellation
3. Verbally express your intent to cancel it in front of two witnesses
4. Write a new document

HOW DO I GET STARTED?

The form is available on www.alaha.org, at courthouses, nursing homes, hospitals, and through the Alabama Medicaid Agency. You must carefully read the form before completing it, because any incorrect information on the document may make it invalid. If you so choose, an attorney may complete the form for you or create an entirely unique document specific to your needs.

For additional information and to download an Advance Directive form, go to the Alabama Hospital Association website at www.alaha.org

CONTACT US

If you have any further questions please feel free to contact anyone in the Case Management Department @ Evergreen Medical Center during the hours of 6am-4pm Monday – Friday.
In-house @ ext. 175 & 184
Outside line: 578-0175 & 578-0184