It is your right as a competent adult
to accept or refuse medical care or treatment. Advance Medical
Treatment Directives (referred to as Advance Directives) can protect
your right if you ever become mentally or physically unable to
choose or communicate your wishes with regard to medical treatment.
An Advance Directive can be very valuable to you, as it protects your right
to make medical choices when you cannot speak for yourself. It also assists
your family by allowing them to know what your wishes are, and it provides
guidelines for the physicians and healthcare providers who are taking care
of you.
Advance Directives enable patients to communicate their feelings about:
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) used to restore
breathing and / or heartbeat.
Respirators / Ventilators�machines used to keep patients
breathing.
Dialysis�a method of cleaning a patients blood by
machine when kidneys no longer work properly.
Intravenous Therapy (IV) used to provide fluids,
and / or medication through a tube placed in the vein.
Feeding Tube inserted through the nose to provide
nutrition when patients can no longer eat normally.
Two Types of Advance Directives . . .
The State of Idaho recognizes two types of Advance Directives:
Living Will: These are written instructions
that explain your wishes regarding health care and treatment,
should you have a terminal condition. They are called living
wills because they take effect while you are still alive but
cannot speak for yourself. A Living Will requires your signature
to be witnessed.
Durable Power of Attorney : This is
a written document in which you name a person (or persons), called an agent
or proxy, to make decisions for you regarding healthcare treatment at the
time you become unable to do so. In addition, you can state in your Advance
Directive your wishes regarding donation of specific organs, bone, or tissue
for transplantation in the event of your death. A Durable Power of Attorney
requires your signature to be witnessed and notarized.
It is important to remember that Advance Directives do not take effect
as long as you are able to communicate your wishes regarding healthcare
treatment.
You may revoke or revise your Advance Directive at any time, either orally
or in writing. Madison Memorial Hospital will honor your wishes as stated
in a properly executed Advance Directive.
Creating an Advanced Directive If you wish to create an Advance Directive while a patient in the hospital,
please ask your physician or nurse for assistance. Put your wishes in writing and be as specific as
possible.
Sign and date your Advance Directives and have them
witnessed and notarized where appropriate.
Keep a card in your wallet or purse stating that
you have an Advance Directive and where to find it.
Give your physician a copy to be kept as part of
your medical records.
Discuss your Advance Directive with your family and
friends, and give copies to relatives or friends who are likely
to be notified in case of an emergency.
Review your Advance Directives regularly and make
any changes when necessary. Remember to inform your physician,
family and proxy or agent of any changes.
Our Case Management Department has forms available for creating an Advanced Directive. You may contact them by calling extension 119. |