Medical Intervention - Choices & Wishes
There are many difficult issues surrounding end of life choices and wishes. One has to do with making your treatment wishes known if you are ever in a position that you can not do so personally. Many people have decided not to place that burden on their families who may be torn in trying to know or guess what aggressive interventions their loved one would want done if they were able to communicate their wishes. An Advanced Medical Directive is completed by the patient and used to convey these wishes. Patients' rights and autonomy are the foundation of hospice. It is part of our mission to follow the wishes of our patients. We encourage our patients and their families to have these necessary discussions so that if and when that difficult time comes, everyone has the confidence they are carrying out the wishes of their loved one.
A Medical Directive is simply a statement that spells out how much or little medical intervention a person desires if he or she is facing a terminal illness or another end of life situation. The directive would be used if the time comes that the patient is no longer capable of making and articulating decisions. Generally speaking, the directive tells the physicians and family to either discontinue treatment except that which is necessary for comfort, or which treatments to continue. A person can write a directive to include interventions such as feeding tubes and other means of artificial hydration and nutrition, ventilators, dialysis and certain medications that may be considered life sustaining.
Another way a patient can convey their wishes regarding treatment interventions is to designate a Medical Power of Attorney, which gives a person or persons of the patient's choosing, the right to make decisions concerning the medical care and treatment when the patient is no longer able to do this himself. This person should be someone known and trusted, and who will be available to hospice agency staff or others involved in caring for the patient.
The following forms are available to you to download for your personal use or the use of your loved one. They have been authorized for use by the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services and are legally approved in the state of Texas. Cypress Basin Hospice uses these same forms when our patients and families who enter our care have not addressed these difficult issues.
Consent to Medical Treatment (English/Spanish) For a person who has not issued a directive and needs medical care. This form would be used when the decision does not include withholding or withdrawing life sustaining treatment.
Directive To Physicians And Family Or Surrogates (English/Spanish) This document allows individuals to inform their physician which, if any, artificial methods he/she would/would not want to be used to attempt to extend life.
Medical Power of Attorney (English/Spanish) This document allows an individual to appoint another person(s) to make health care treatment decisions on their behalf. This document becomes effective only if the individual becomes incompetent or incapable of communication and does not permit the designee(s) to make decisions to supersede the patient's decisions.
Out-of-Hospital Do Not Resuscitate Information & Form (English) This is an important legal document. This document becomes effective immediately on the date of execution. It remains in effect until the patient is pronounced dead by an authorized medical or legal authority or the document is revoked.
Procedure When Person Has Not Executed or Issued a Directive and Is Incompetent or Incapable of Communication (English/Spanish) This form can be completed and can include withholding or withdrawing life sustaining treatment.
If you are interested in attending workshop on Medical Directives presented by Cypress Basin Hospice please email us at info@cbhospice.org or call 903-577-1510.