Honoring Patient Wishes with Advance Directives
There are times when healthcare decisions may need to be made when an individual is no longer able to decide or communicate his or her preferences. Adults of all ages are at risk as a result of an injury or illness.
A person’s right to control his or her healthcare decisions does not end if they become incapable.
Putting your wishes in writing is the best way to help make sure your wishes will be known and followed by family, friends, health care providers, and others.
A Health Care Directive is a tool which allows you to:
- Appoint another person (called an agent) to make healthcare decisions for you if you become unable to make or communicate decisions for yourself (Part I), or
- Leave written instructions so that others can make decisions based on your wishes and preferences (Part II), or
- Do both -- appoint a healthcare agent and leave instructions.
- Patients are encouraged, but not required, to complete both Part I and Part II of the Health Care Directive form.