Advance Medical Directives
There is a possibility that at some time during a stay in the hospital you may
not be able to direct your medical care. To ensure that our doctors and nurses
understand your wishes at all times, you may want to prepare an advance medical
directive. An advance medical directive (written instructions on how you wish
your care to be provided when you are determined unable to make decisions) may
be either a living will or a durable power of attorney for health care.
It is our policy to recognize your right to make decisions concerning your
medical care. This includes the right to accept or refuse medical or surgical
treatment and the right to create advance medical directives. These directives
could include the withholding and withdrawing of all forms of medical treatment,
such as respirators, medically provided nutrition/hydration and antibiotics.
Measures needed to ease pain and provide comfort will always be provided, even
if a decision has been made to withhold or withdraw other forms of medical treatment.
Advance medical directives also give options for doing everything possible and
withholding nothing.
A living will allows you to specify treatments to be provided or withheld
if you become terminally ill and/or incapable of making treatment decisions
for yourself. Living wills are not specifically addressed by Michigan law; however,
they will be accepted as an expression of your wishes and will be followed,
provided there is a general agreement among family members and caregivers that
it represents your wishes and is in accord with generally accepted medical practice.
A durable power of attorney for health care designates another person or persons
to make treatment decisions for you if you are ever unable to make decisions
about your health care.
If you have completed an advance medical directive, please inform a member
of your health care team so a copy can be placed in your health information
record (medical record). If you would like more information on this topic, please
speak with your doctor, contact a social worker or call the Medical Ethics Office
at 734-712-5874.
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