Now is the best time to express your final wishes, and here are some tips on how to do it

EDITOR:

The American Nurses Association, along with a broad array of other organizations, marked National Healthcare Decisions Day this past Wednesday. The National Healthcare Decisions Day initiative is a collaborative effort of national, state and community organizations committed to ensuring that all adults with decision making capacity in the United States have the information and opportunity to communicate and document their healthcare decisions. Advance directives (ADs), a living will and a healthcare power of attorney are documents that everyone over the age of 18 should have.

The purpose of ADs is to state your wishes concerning the right to accept or refuse medical treatment when you are unable to give informed consent. Briefly, ADs give direction to caregivers as to the level of care a person wishes to receive when the person cannot communicate. They go into effect only if you cannot indicate what care you wish to receive. If you can wiggle a finger or blink an eye, you can communicate!

There are two parts to advance directives: a living will and a durable power of attorney for health care.

A living will states what care you do or do not wish to receive if you are in a permanent unconscious state or are terminally ill and cannot communicate.

The power of attorney designates someone who can make health care decisions for you if you cannot communicate your wishes. If you also have a living will, that document will help the person make your health care decisions.

In Ohio, there are specific requirements for both of these documents. The forms are available for free. They can be witnessed by two individuals who are not related and are not health care providers, or they can be notarized. The forms usually have an attachment to indicate if you wish to be an organ donor. The forms should be in your medical record with your family physician and they have no expiration date. They can be rescinded or changed at any time.

There are many other aspects of Advanced Directives that everyone should know about. One of the places you can learn more on-line is www.nationalhealthcaredecisionsday.org or you can ask a registered nurse. The registered nurse members of District Three, Ohio Nurses Association, care about this community and encourage everyone to follow through with completing advanced directives. It will help to make your life and the lives of your family members simpler in times of serious illness or injury.

VIRGINIA WEPFER, RN

North Jackson

X The writer is a member of the Legislative Committee, District Three, Ohio Nurses Association.