Spiritual Care

Advance Directives

What are Advance Directives?

Advance directives are documents such as the Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare and Living Wills that allow the patient to give healthcare providers direction regarding their wishes regarding their medical care at end of life, should the capacity to make decisions be lost due to coma, dementia, or inability to communicate due to terminal illness. While all advance directives are helpful, only advance directives that indicate a decision making surrogate and follow state prescribed signatures or notarization are legally binding in the State of California.

Advance directives are completed by patients in consultation with their health care providers, family members, and significant others.

How do I obtain an Advance Directive?
 
You may purchase a form through the American Hospital Association and follow the directions in the form. If you are a patient in the hospital we would be happy to provide you a free copy of the form and answer any questions you may have regarding the form and give you any assistance you may need in filling out the form. To receive a form please let your nurse that you would like information about Advance Directives.

The Advance Directive form for California is available in the following languages: English, Chinese and Spanish.