NEWS FROM OUR
PARISH NURSE
Have you ever wondered who decides your fate when you become ill and can no longer make your own decisions about what kind of medical treatment and life support you receive? In an emergency situation, such as a sudden illness, when you are unable to speak for yourself and there is no signed Living Will, medical personnel and your doctor will do everything medically necessary to keep you alive. Once you are on life support it is more difficult to make the choice to remove them. If you have previously discussed your wishes with your doctor and your family but did not put it in writing, your doctor can discuss with your immediate next of kin. Sometimes when there is a disagreement among family members the only option your doctor has is to support you with the medical intervention he feels best until the courts make the decision about your care. This happened last year with the case involving Terri Schaivo and the disagreement between her spouse and her parents. When you write your wishes in an Advanced Care Medical Directive you have stated your wishes and your loved ones only need to follow your wishes. Every person 18 and over has the right to make a Advanced Health Care Directive for themselves when they are alert and of sound mind. Only God knows when you will be called to eternal life, therefore it is important to have our wishes in writing.
An Advanced Health Care Directive includes both a Living Will and a Medical Durable Power of Attorney. The Living Will allows you to convey your wishes regarding medical treatment when those wishes can no longer be personally communicated by you. In writing a Living Will you specify if you want heroic measures, life support, or simply food, water, and comfort measures. A Medical Durable Power of Attorney becomes effective when you are incapacitated or when you are no longer are capable of making health care decisions for yourself. You designate someone you trust to make health care decisions on your behalf. It is important that this person be someone you trust with your life, someone who knows you well and understands what is important to you, and a person who will carry out your wishes. Equally important is to ask this person if he/she is willing to do this for you. It might also be wise to have an alternate choice as well. A lawyer is not needed to prepare this form and you can cancel, change, or rewrite an Advanced Medical Directive at any time as circumstances in your life change. It is important that you give a signed copy to the designated agent; also a copy should be filed with your doctor, your attorney, your priest, and inform your family or significant person in your life where your Medical Directive is located. Living wills should be kept handy in the event of a medical emergency and be taken with you to the hospital. Also carry a note with your identification that you have a Medical Directive and where it is located.
Judy Wallace, a licensed social worker from Mercy Health Medical Center, will present a program entitled “Five Wishes”, At the North Church parish hall on Tuesday, February 21, at 1:00 pm. She will give you information to assist in the writing your own Advanced Medical Directives. Writing and signing this form relieves our loved ones of making those difficult decisions for us at a time when they are often unable emotionally to do this. This information is important and if unable to attend, handouts will be available.
Sandy Hove, R.N. February 2006
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