An advance health care directive gives you the option of requesting or refusing special medical treatment at the end of life, including your desire for diagnostic testing, surgical procedures, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and organ donation, according to information from the California Attorney General’s website.
By considering your options early, you can avoid placing the responsibility on your family of having to make critical healthcare decisions for you while they are under emotional distress.
As a suggestion when preparing your advance health care directive, the California Attorney General’s website offers the following checklist:
*GATHER INFORMATION FOR DECISION-MAKING. Your physician is a good place to start for understanding your options on health care treatment at the end of life. In addition, many organizations have information that may be useful.
*DISCUSS YOUR END-OF-LIFE DECISIONS WITH KEY PEOPLE. Talk about your decisions with your family, physician and others who are close to you. Some questions to consider for discussion:
-What is important to you when you are dying?
-Are there specific medical treatments you especially want or do not want?
-When you are dying, do you want to be in a nursing home, hospital or at home?
-What are the options in Palliative Care/Pain Management and Hospice Care?
*PREPARE YOUR ADVANCE CARE DIRECTIVE FORM. Under state law, you have a legal right to express your health care wishes and to have them considered in situations when you are unable to make these decisions yourself. California consolidated various earlier forms used to indicate health care preferences into one Advance Care Directive. All valid health care directives executed before July 1, 2000 can remain in effect under California Probate Code section 4701. Earlier forms included Natural Death Act Declaration, Directive to Physicians and Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care. While state law requires certain provisions to appear in your health care directive, there is no single form in use to document your wishes.
*DESIGNATE PERSON TO CARRY OUT WISHES. Select who should handle your health care choices and discuss the matter with them. You could name a spouse, relative or other agent.
*INFORM KEY PEOPLE OF YOUR PREFERENCES. Notify your doctor, family and close friends about your end-of-life preferences. Keep a copy of your signed and completed advance health care directive safe and accessible. This will help ensure that your wishes will be known at the critical time and carried out. Give a copy of your form to:
-The person you appoint as your agent and any alternate designated agents
-Your physician
-Your health care providers
-The health care institution that is providing your care
-Family members
-Other responsible person who is likely to be called if there is a medical emergency
The website also suggests talking with your physician, lawyer or other trusted advisor if you are unsure of your options.
SOURCE: State of California Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General
