Pastoral Care: Advance Directives

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Advance Directives

Living Wills and Medical Durable Power of Attorney are legal documents that protect your right to make choices about your medical care if you ever become unable to communicate your wishes.

Both Living Wills and Medical Durable of Attorney are called advance directives.

Advance directives let your family and friends know how you feel about possible difficult decisions and provide treatment guidelines for your doctor.

There are both federal and state laws governing advance directives. Oklahoma’s Health Care Decisions Act of 1992 permits Oklahomans to record their wishes regarding “extraordinary care in the event of terminal illness.”

In Oklahoma, a Living Will is a document that tells others how you wish to be treated should you have a terminal condition. In a Living Will, for example, you can tell your doctor whether or not you wish to prolong your life by receiving food and water through a feeding tube.

You can name a person to make medical care decisions for you in case you become incapable of making an informed decision for yourself. The person you choose will be your “health care agent.” You can name the person in a document called a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care. You should choose someone you trust to be your agent, and you should talk to that person about your wishes before you complete and sign the Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care form.

Living Will forms are available at the hospital. The patient should see an attorney for a Durable Power of Attorney. You must follow certain rules if you wish to have these directives work for you. You must be at least eighteen years old and mentally competent. You must complete and sign the form while you are able to understand your condition and the kinds of treatment you might need. Two people who are not related to you must witness your signature, on both the Living Will and the Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care. You can change or cancel your Living Will or Durable Power of Attorney at any time. You can also tell your doctor and each person you named as your health care agent that you wish to make a change.

You do not have to have advance directives. Your decisions regarding advance directives will not affect your admission to any INTEGRIS hospital. If you have advance directives, please bring a copy with you when you are admitted.

If you need assistance or more information about advance directives, ask your nurse or doctor. You may contact your chaplain or social worker at the hospital.

Our chaplains can assist you in making decisions around your end-of-life care. We assist folks in completing Advance Directives and Durable Powers of Attorney for Healthcare. Please contact our office for assistance with these important documents.

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