As a cognitively healthy adult, you have the right to be informed about the state of your health and make your own decisions about medical treatment. But, what happens if you become unable to voice your own decisions?
If a person becomes incapacitated, either temporarily or permanently, advance health care planning comes into play, according to Erin Yelland, Extension specialist at Kansas State University. Forming advance health care directives allows a person to voice his or her wishes regarding future health care, in the event that person eventually becomes unable to do so.
Unfortunately, however, only one in four U.S. adults has an advance health care directive in place, said Yelland. Many people start the planning process as older adults, but this is something any person over the age of 18 should consider. At any point in life, tragedies – such as a car accident, farming accident or sudden serious disease – can happen.
The importance of this issue for young adults will be included in the “Real World 103″ presentation on April 26, 7:00-8:00 pm, at Cody Commons in the Fort Hays State University Student Union. Speakers from the Hays Area Young Professionals group, in partnership with the Ellis County Extension Community Development program committee, will share information about advance health care planning for young people over age 18 whose parents may not be aware of their preferences and decisions.
The most common advance directives include a durable power of attorney for health care and living will. A packet with a copy of the Kansas statute forms for these directives, in addition to other important health care information, is available at the Ellis County Extension Office or online at www.ksre.ksu.edu; http://www.ksu.edu/bookstore use the Bookstore to search for MF3280 “Advance Health Care Planning in Kansas.”
Durable power of attorney for health care
In your advance health care directives, you can name someone who you would like to make decisions for you in the event that you are unable to speak for yourself. The person named to make medical decisions on another person’s behalf is called a “durable power of attorney for health care,” “medical power of attorney” or “health care agent.” This is not to be confused with naming a durable financial power of attorney, which should be handled with the help of a lawyer.
Naming a durable power of attorney for health care is a much simpler process that requires completing an easy fill-in-the-blank form and getting signatures from two witnesses.
A person’s named durable power of attorney for health care can make multiple decisions on his or her behalf, including what treatment to provide, who will administer the treatment and where the treatment should take place.
Yelland added that it is important to choose a trustworthy person, perhaps a close friend or relative, and clearly communicate any medical wishes with that person.
The living will
The living will, or an instruction list about what type of care a person would like to receive at the end of life, is also an important part of advance health care directives documentation. Unlike the durable power of attorney for health care form, the living will form does not appoint someone as a voice but rather explains in writing a person’s end-of-life wishes.
Specifically, the living will addresses a person’s wish to not accept life-sustaining procedures – being placed on a ventilator, or receiving artificial nutrition and hydration – if at least two physicians deem that person, in writing, as terminal.
“If you have specific wishes, and your wishes don’t exactly align with the Kansas statute fill-in-the-blank form, it’s recommended that you consult an attorney,” Yelland said.
Like the durable power of attorney for health care form, the living will is valid if completely filled out and witnessed by two people.
Updating and storing documentation
People should review their durable power of attorney for health care, living will and other advance health care directives documentation at least once a year to make sure it still aligns with their wishes. Also review the documents after a major life event, such as a marriage, divorce or separation.
To revoke the documentation, simply destroy it and complete new state statute forms. Keep note on who has copies of the forms, so that older copies are destroyed and replaced with new ones.
Make sure the named health care agent, close family and friends, the local hospital and a primary care physician have copies of the advance directive forms. Consider keeping a copy in the glove box of the car, on the refrigerator, or somewhere open and accessible at home.
“Don’t just keep it in a safety deposit box,” Yelland said. “If something were to happen to you, there are few people, if anyone, who have access to that box and can get the documents for you. It’s also important to note that copies of original forms are valid. So even if you keep the original in a safety deposit box, for example, if your son is your agent and he comes with a copy, that will be honored.”
The “Advance Health Care Planning in Kansas” packet available from K-State Research and Extension also has a wallet card for people to carry that allows them to list places where their advance health care documentation is stored.
Finally, people should also know that each state has its own statute forms, and it is not guaranteed that another state will accept the Kansas forms.
“If you move, it’s strongly recommended that you fill out that state’s forms,” Yelland said. “If you spend a large amount of time in another state– for example, if family members live in a different state or if you have a second home or vacation property where you spend a significant amount of time– it’s important that you fill out forms in that state as well, so that you can make sure your wishes will be honored no matter what state you’re in.”
Linda K. Beech is Ellis County Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences.