Essential Choices - Advance Directives
What are the blue words in the Essential Choices of my Medical Passport?
These are words that are “linked” to further explanation and sometimes photos to help you better understand the terminology in Essential Choices. You can point at any of the blue words and click your left mouse button to “go” to the photos and explanation. A window will pop open. You can use the scroll bar to go up and down in the terminology section.
What if I forget to complete some of the steps in Essential Choices?
You should click on “Summary” to see the same summary that the healthcare workers will see. Additionally you can click on “print” and view “Essential Choices/Advance Directives Summary”. This gives you a place to review your choices and make sure you have completed them according to your desires.
What if I only have one person for a Health Care Agent?
You only need to select one. The other spaces are for backups if your first choice is unavailable or does not want to act in that capacity. Make sure all of your choices know that you have chosen them as Health Care Agents and that they know what you would want in terms of health care.
Do I have to complete all the steps in the Essential Choices program?
You do NOT have to complete any of the steps if you do not want advanced directives. If you want to just identify someone that will take responsibility for your health care choices if you are incapacitated (A Health Care Agent) then you need only complete Step One (Choose a Health Care Agent) and Step Four (Choose Witnesses). The forms will then need to be printed and signed.
Will doctors honor my Advanced Directives if they only have the Medical Passport and not the paper copies?
Obviously Essential Medical cannot guarantee what physicians will do in various medical situations. However, while politicians write the laws, physicians practice medicine. The reality, in health care, is that rarely do physicians have access to all the legal copies of advanced directives and living wills. Generally in critical situations, physicians utilize every resource available – usually family, friends and primary care physicians – to make what they believe to be the best decisions for you.
Putting your choices and medical information in the Medical Passport, and carrying it with you, gives physicians immediate access to your medical information and your choices about care. They can utilize this information first to care for you and if necessary to call your emergency contact person, Health Care Agent and if necessary verify your witnesses for the states legal purposes.
Is there anyone that can review my Essential Choices to see if I did it right?
You should go over the information with your personal physician. Additionally, the Essential Choices should be discussed with your attorney. Signed and witnessed copies of your Essential Choices – Advanced Directives should be given to your physician, attorney, and Health Care Agent.