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Legal Directions
Adults have the right to accept or refuse medical or surgical treatment. Any numbers of choices are, therefore, part of a hospital stay. When you are faced with making decisions in the course of medical treatment, discussion of the situation with your family, doctor, and other hospital caregivers can be helpful. In some cases, it may be useful to involve your family attorney.
Occasionally, making decisions about your treatment can be difficult. If you require assistance in resolving medical ethical dilemmas, ask your nurse or call the Customer Service coordinator at extension 2992. Either of these staff members can put you in touch with St. John’s Medical Ethics Committee.
Speak Up
Patients are encouraged to become active members of their health care team. Do not hesitate to ask questions about your treatment process.
Communicating Decisions
Making your wishes known to appropriate people is an important part of having your choices honored. The following are methods for consideration.
Power of Attorney
A power of attorney allows you to choose someone else to manage your personal and business affairs. You can specify what powers you wish to give to another person.Durable Power of Attorney
Unlike a power of attorney, a durable power of attorney is valid even after you have lost your mental abilities. You can choose what kind of durable power of attorney to give a person. Healthcare is one of those. The holder of the durable power of attorney has the legal obligation to follow the wishes you made known before you lost your mental ability. Powers of attorney become invalid at death.Advance Treatment Directive (Living Will)
Missouri law permits adults the right to execute Advance Treatment Directive for him/herself indicating which types of treatments they choose to receive if they are dying and unable to speak for themselves at the time treatment is given. It is St. John’s policy to inform each adult patient of this right, and to record, place on file and honor such directives.
We recommend that you discuss these issues with your physician, family, lawyer, friends, and minister. Give them a signed copy of any document like those mentioned here. A copy should be placed in your medical record at any hospital where you might receive care. Carrying a copy is also a good idea. Advance Treatment Directives can only be honored if they are present at the time of treatment. None of these documents mean an individual will be ignored or given inadequate care.