At End-of-Life, It’s Your Right to Decide
Communicating Your Healthcare Choices
Virginia’s third statewide annual Virginia Advance Directives Day is on Tuesday, April 16, 2008. Planners hope that on April 16 every hospital, nursing home and assisted living facility in the Commonwealth will participate in this focused effort to provide clear, consistent information to the public about advance directives and that media coverage will spread the important message about the benefits of advance directives.
On April 16, Potomac Hospital will provide information on Advance Directives to the community during three drop-by sessions, which will be held outside the Garden Cafe at Potomac Hospital. Interested visitors may also receive assistance completing the necessary forms.
For session times please call (703) 583-3003.
Background: An estimated three out of four American adults have not completed a Living Will of any kind. This is partially due to the difficulty involved in thinking about and discussing your own death and dying issues with your family, friends, physician or attorney. Medical treatment issues involving life-prolonging procedures are not the only concerns surrounding end of life. If you have strong feelings about what constitutes death with dignity and comfort, it is essential that you discuss your wishes and put them in writing.
To help you begin, you may want to ask yourself these questions and to discuss your answers with your family.
- Do I want to be in a hospital or at home with my family and friends when I am dying?
- Do I want my hand held?
- Do I want poetry read to me or my favorite music playing?
- How do I want to be remembered?
- What kind of memorial service would I like to have?
- Where do I want to be buried?
- Is cremation something I would want?
- If there is no hope for my recovery, would I wish to be kept alive artificially, or would I want to be kept comfortable and pain free?
- If I am no longer capable of making medical decisions, who would I want to make decisions for me?
- Do I wish to be an organ donor after death?
Thinking about your own values, discussing them with those close to you, and then putting them in writing can help you approach the end of life with a plan and greater peace of mind. In 1990, Congress passed the Patient Self-Determination Act. It requires healthcare institutions to tell patients and the people in their communities about their rights under Federal and State law to make decisions about their end-of-life medical treatment. These rights include the right to accept or refuse care and the right to make advance directives about their care.
Facing End-of-Life Decisions With a Plan
To receive Potomac Hospital’s free booklet, Your Right to Decide, and Living Will/Healthcare Power of Attorney forms, call (703) 670-1236 or go request one here.
Booklets and forms are also available at the Information Desk in Potomac Hospital’s main lobby and the Gift Shop.
