Who Can Make Your Health Decisions for You if You Are Incapable?
If you are in the hospital and unable to make your healthcare decisions, who decides your healthcare? If you haven't named a surrogate, your doctor will consult with the closest family member or friend to help make the decision for you.
Why It’s Important to Have an Advance Directive
When you have decided to make up an Advance Directive, let your doctor know that you want that person listed as a healthcare surrogate in your medical records. The Advance Directive is only effective during the treatment of your current medical condition or illness. Also, it’s effective if you are in a medical facility until you leave the facility.
When you choose someone for an Advance Healthcare Directive, they will know what kind of treatment you prefer. It’s called an Advance Directive because the decision about your healthcare is made in advance. Plus, you decide who will speak on your behalf and what needs to be done.
You can pick any adult relative or anyone you trust to speak for you when a crucial medical decision needs to be made. You will need to go over what kind of treatment and decisions for your treatment you want with that person.
These types of treatment decisions are often difficult to make, and it helps if your chosen person really understands what kind of care you want. You can also write your wishes in your advance directive.
What if You Don’t Want to Name Surrogate?
If you don’t want to name a surrogate, you can still make your wishes for care known. You can write out an advance directive without naming an agent. You can write what decisions you have made about the quality of life, whether to continue or not continue your life. You can also decide what kind of pain relief you want or another type of medical treatment.
You can also cancel or change your Advance Directive whenever you want as long as you can say what you want to do. If you're going to switch the person making your healthcare decision, you have to sign a statement saying that or tell your doctor who's in charge of your healthcare.
What Happens When My Surrogate Makes My Healthcare Decisions?
Whoever you have chosen to make your healthcare decisions have to abide by the same rules. Anyone who is your surrogate is required to follow whatever is written in your Advance Directive.
If your wishes aren't known, the surrogate needs to determine what would be in your best interest. The healthcare providers providing your health care have to follow the decisions of your surrogate. The only time this would change is if the requested medical treatment would be ineffective in helping you or bad medical practice.
Suppose this causes a disagreement that can't be decided. In that case, the provider must make an effort to locate another provider to take over your medical care.
What About a Living Will?
A living will is another alternative. It’s a legal document that clarifies the medical treatment you would or would not want to have to keep you alive. Plus, there are other preferences for medical decisions like organ donation and pain management.
When making out your living will, consider how important it is to you to be self-sufficient and independent. Would you accept treatment to extend your life under any circumstances? Or would you want treatment if only the possibility of a cure was possible?
Several end-of-life care decisions need to be addressed in your living will. First, you should talk to your doctor about any questions for an end-of-life decision.
We at Right at Home are here for any of your in-home healthcare needs. Call us today.