In honor of National Healthcare Decisions Day on April 16, Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital urges all adults — including healthy individuals — to consider what their healthcare choices would be if they are unable to speak for themselves and then make certain their choices are followed by completing an Advance Health Care Directive.
“An advance directive is your life on your terms. Whether you’re 18 or 80, there’s a risk that an accident or illness could affect your health,” explains Alissa Myatt, a social work case manager at Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital. “Documenting your wishes today means your family won’t have to make heart-wrenching decisions later.”
Under California state law, adults have the legal right to express their health care wishes and to have them followed. Many people operate under the mistaken impression that it suffices to tell friends and relatives how they would wish their care to be managed if they were in a life-threatening situation. Unless a patient’s wishes have been put in writing, there is a good chance they will not be honored. An advance directive — such as living will, durable power of attorney, and health care proxy — describes the kind of treatment you would like to have if you become unable to make medical decisions.
“We encourage everyone to talk with their family, friends, and doctor,” said Myatt. “They should know their options, decide what’s right for them, and then put it in writing. Legally communicating wishes about end-of-life care will ensure that patients face the end of their lives with dignity and with the same values by which they have lived.”
California law requires certain provisions be included in the advance health care directive, including a notarized signature, for it to be valid; however, it is not necessary to consult with an attorney. Many physician offices, hospice care providers, and hospitals, such as Henry Mayo, have health care directives available. In addition, a wide array of resources can be found on the internet.
Once the advance health care directive is completed, individuals should store the document in a safe and easily acessible place, and provide copies to their physician, family and close friends.
For more information on advance health care directives, including facts provided by the California Medical Association, contact Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital’s social services department at 661-253-8521. Advance health care directives can be downloaded from the hospital’s Web site at www.henrymayo.com .