By Shannin Prather
January 2021 | 2021 Winter Newsletter
Modern medicine can do amazing things but may also require some very difficult decisions. Loved ones cannot act on your wishes unless they know what they are.
National Healthcare Decisions Day is on Friday, April 16, 2021 and is a day designed to inspire, educate, and empower the public about the importance of advance care planning so the wishes of the patient will be known before a health event that may render them unable to speak or advocate for themselves.
Advance care planning is a process of planning and having conversations with
those who care for you. It can be intimidating to talk about these things but expressing what you want regarding your medical care can be a great gift to your loved ones and take the burden of tough decisions off their shoulders.
After you have discussed your wishes, it is important to complete the necessary documents, like an advanced directive, to avoid any confusion about what you want.
An advanced directive, often referred to as a “living will” or “health care power of attorney,” is a legal document providing guidance to medical professionals regarding the type of treatment you will allow in the event of a medical emergency that may leave you unable to communicate for yourself.
Advanced directives also allow you to designate someone—a surrogate—to make medical decisions for you if you cannot speak for yourself. Having an advanced directive is strongly advised for all adults, regardless of age. The author of this article recommends the Five Wishes (fivewishes.org) advanced directive due to it being very low in cost and having personal touches.
In California, another common type of advanced directive is a Physicians Order for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) form, which you can request from your doctor. This medical document states your preferences to emergency medical workers, like paramedics, in the event of a medical emergency.
The POLST form lists your preferences about cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), using intravenous therapy (IVs), a ventilator, and artificial nutrition given via a tube. Filling out a POLST form is voluntary. However, if the form has been completed, medical providers are legally required to abide by your requests. The POLST should be considered by individuals with a serious illness or advanced frailty near the end-of-life.
Advanced directives and POLST forms are not the same. The advanced directive is a legal document and the POLST is a medical document. These documents work together to make your wishes known when you cannot communicate for yourself.
Advanced directives and POLST forms can be modified at any time and will never override your own expressed directives during a medical emergency in which you are able make your own decisions.
Speak to your doctor to learn more about advanced directives and POLST forms.
Modern medicine can do amazing things but may also require some very difficult decisions. Loved ones cannot act on your wishes unless they know what they are.
National Healthcare Decisions Day is on Friday, April 16, 2021 and is a day designed to inspire, educate, and empower the public about the importance of advance care planning so the wishes of the patient will be known before a health event that may render them unable to speak or advocate for themselves.
Advance care planning is a process of planning and having conversations with those who care for you. It can be intimidating to talk about these things but expressing what you want regarding your medical care can be a great gift to your loved ones and take the burden of tough decisions off their shoulders.
After you have discussed your wishes, it is important to complete the necessary documents, like an advanced directive, to avoid any confusion about what you want.
An advanced directive, often referred to as a “living will” or “health care power of attorney,” is a legal document providing guidance to medical professionals regarding the type of treatment you will allow in the event of a medical emergency that may leave you unable to communicate for yourself.
Advanced directives also allow you to designate someone—a surrogate—to make medical decisions for you if you cannot speak for yourself. Having an advanced directive is strongly advised for all adults, regardless of age. The author of this article recommends the Five Wishes (fivewishes.org) advanced directive due to it being very low in cost and having personal touches.
In California, another common type of advanced directive is a Physicians Order for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) form, which you can request from your doctor. This medical document states your preferences to emergency medical workers, like paramedics, in the event of a medical emergency.
The POLST form lists your preferences about cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), using intravenous therapy (IVs), a ventilator, and artificial nutrition given via a tube. Filling out a POLST form is voluntary. However, if the form has been completed, medical providers are legally required to abide by your requests. The POLST should be considered by individuals with a serious illness or advanced frailty near the end-of-life.
Advanced directives and POLST forms are not the same. The advanced directive is a legal document and the POLST is a medical document. These documents work together to make your wishes known when you cannot communicate for yourself.
Advanced directives and POLST forms can be modified at any time and will never override your own expressed directives during a medical emergency in which you are able make your own decisions.
Speak to your doctor to learn more about advanced directives and POLST forms.