What if you became ill or injured and could no longer communicate with
family members or health care personnel to let them know your wishes and
what kind of care you would like?
By completing a document called an advance health care directive, you can
make your wishes known, letting your physician, family and friends know
your preferences, including the types of special treatment you want or
don’t want at the end of life, your desire for diagnostic testing,
surgical procedures, cardiopulmonary resuscitation and organ donation.
- You have the right to give instructions about your own health care.
- You also have the right to name someone else to make health care decisions for you.
All Washington Hospital patients receive information regarding advance
directives upon admission. In order to be in compliance with the Federal
Patient Self-Determination Act (PSDA) passed by Congress in 1990, Washington
Hospital now asks, at the time of registration, all patients over the
age of 18 if an advance directive has been drafted. Washington Hospital
has formal policies to ensure that your wishes about treatment will be followed.
If you present an advance directive to us when you register, this information
will be maintained in your medical records. If you have not completed
an advance directive and want information, we will provide it to you.
You are not required to have an advance directive to receive medical care.
Resources are available to answer questions you might have.
A brochure which explains your right to make healthcare decisions and how
you can plan what should be done when you cannot speak for yourself is
available in the Admitting department.
Download an Advance Health Care Directive Form
Online Resources