Advance Directives

If you are at least 18 years old, and are able to handle your own affairs, you can establish a Durable Power of Attorney for health care. This is a legal document that allows you to appoint someone (Patient Advocate) to make health care, custody, and medical treatment decisions on your behalf if you are unable to make such decisions on your own. Your physician will honor decisions made by your Patient Advocate on your behalf if your physician deems such decisions to be medically appropriate. You can revoke the appointment of a Patient Advocate at any time, and your Patient Advocate cannot make any decision to withhold or withdraw medical treatment that would result in your death unless you have expressed, in a clear and convincing manner, that your Patient Advocate has authority to make such a decision. You are not required to have a Durable Power of Attorney for health care or any other form of advance medical directive as a condition of providing medical treatment. For further information, call Case Management at 989-894-3177.