Being a patient sometimes requires making difficult decisions about health care. Here, in summary form, are commonly asked questions about advanced directives:

Question: Must your doctor and surrogates honor your health care directives?

Answer: Yes. Both health care providers and surrogates must follow valid health care directives. However, a doctor is not required under state law to follow a health care directive if to do so would be against his conscience. In such a situation, the doctor must immediately transfer your care to another doctor who will honor your health care directives.

Question: Must you complete all three documents?

Answer: The choice is yours depending on your needs and wishes. The Health Care Power of Attorney, the Mental Health Care Power of Attorney and the Living Will are all tools for you to use to express your wishes and/or designate decision makers to carry out your wishes. They may be separate documents or in combination with one another.

Question: Must you have a lawyer prepare your health care directive?

Answer: No. There are local and national organizations that can provide you with information on health care directives, including forms. Be sure that any health care directive you use is valid in your state.

Question: What assistance will Banner Health staff give you if you are interested in completing a health care directive?

Answer: We will care for you whether or not you have a health care directive. If you want to complete a Living Will, a Health Care Power of Attorney or a Mental Health Care Power of Attorney while in the hospital, forms are available upon your request. Nursing, Social Services or Patient Relations staff can provide you with basic information about filling out the forms, but they cannot assist you in writing your own directives and cannot provide legal advice.  We encourage you to discuss your treatment choices and the medical consequences of those choices with your doctor.

Question: Who should have a copy of your health care directives?

Answer: Give copies of your health care directives to your doctor and carry a copy with you at all times. Give copies to the people who have  Health Care Power of Attorney and/or a Mental Health Care Power of Attorney.  You should also keep extra copies for yourself. If you are admitted to the hospital, give a copy of your health care directive to an admissions representative, nurse, social worker, Patient Relations representative or doctor involved in your care.

Question: Can you change or cancel your health care directive?

Answer: Yes. If you change or cancel/redo your health care directive or change those who have Health Care Power of Attorney, be sure to notify anyone who has a copy of your health care directive. You should tell your doctor about any changes you have made or wish to make. You may cancel/redo your health care directive orally, in writing or by destroying it.