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Ensuring Medical Wishes are Followed in Case of Incapacity

When it comes to healthcare decisions, it is crucial for individuals to have their medical wishes respected, even if they become incapacitated and are unable to communicate their preferences. To ensure that their desires are honored, patients can take certain proactive steps and make their wishes known in advance.

Advance Care Planning

Advance care planning is a process that allows individuals to outline their healthcare preferences and designate a trusted person to make decisions on their behalf if they are unable to do so. This process typically involves the following steps:

Choosing a Healthcare Proxy: Patients can select a trusted family member or friend to act as their healthcare proxy or durable power of attorney for healthcare. This person will be responsible for making medical decisions on their behalf.

Discussing Medical Preferences: Patients should have open and honest conversations with their healthcare proxy and loved ones about their medical wishes. This includes discussing treatment options, end-of-life care, and any specific instructions they want to be followed.

Creating Legal Documents: Patients can work with an attorney to create legal documents that reflect their medical wishes. These may include a living will, which outlines specific medical interventions they do or do not want, and a durable power of attorney for healthcare, which grants decision-making authority to their chosen proxy.

Sharing Documents: It is essential to distribute copies of these legal documents to healthcare providers, family members, and the designated healthcare proxy. This ensures that everyone involved is aware of the patient’s wishes.

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Medical Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (MOLST)

In addition to advance care planning, patients may also consider completing a Medical Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (MOLST) form. This form is typically used for patients with serious or advanced illnesses and serves as a medical order that healthcare professionals must follow.

The MOLST form provides detailed instructions regarding the patient’s preferences for life-sustaining treatments, such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), intubation, and artificial nutrition. It is completed in collaboration with the patient’s healthcare provider and is typically kept in a visible location, such as on the refrigerator or in the patient’s medical records.

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Regular Review and Communication

Once the necessary legal documents are in place, it is important for patients to regularly review and update them as needed. Healthcare preferences may change over time, so it is crucial to communicate any changes to the designated healthcare proxy and healthcare providers.

Furthermore, patients should inform their primary care physician and other healthcare professionals about their medical wishes during routine appointments. This ensures that their preferences are documented in their medical records and can be easily accessed if needed.

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By engaging in advance care planning, completing legal documents, and maintaining open communication with healthcare providers and loved ones, patients can have peace of mind knowing that their medical wishes will be respected, even in the event of incapacity.

Keywords: healthcare, medical, patients, preferences, documents, advance, planning, patient, decisions