By Dolly Moiseeff
I sure don’t want to die.
But my doctor has made me think about exactly how I want things done when I do.
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A document, given to me by my doctor, will let me specify what I want done – when (many, many years from now, I hope) I do face death.
This document – Five Wishes – is a legal document in Michigan and 41 other states and allows you to appoint a Health Care Agent if the following things happen.
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Your attending or treating doctor find you are no longer able to make health care choices AND
Another health care professional agrees that this is true.
Who is going to do this for you? Most likely your spouse, a family member or a good friend.
Whoever you appoint make sure they know you well.
“You need to appoint someone who knows you best and will respect your wishes for care,” says Kristin Kolasa, founder of Kindred Spirits Senior Care.
“Ultimately its makes things easier for loved ones letting them know how you want things done,” Kolasa adds.
You’ll want someone who will stand up for you so that your wishes are followed and will be there to help when you need it.
You cannot designate your doctor or health care provider or the owner or operator of a health or residential or community care facility serving you, nor can you choose an employee or spouse of an employee of your health care provider.
Finally, you cannot choose someone serving as an agent or proxy for 10 or more people unless he or she is your spouse or close relative.
This person wields a lot of responsibility. If you want them to, your Health Care Agent can.
Make choices about medical care or services like tests, medicine or surgery. The care or service could be to find out what the health problem is, or how to treat it. It can also include care to keep you alive. If the treatment or care has already started, your Health Care Agent can keep it going or have it stopped.
Interpret any instructions you have given in the Five Wishes form or other discussions, according to your Health Care Agent’s understanding of your wishes and values.
Consent to admission to an assisted living facility, hospital, hospice, or nursing home. Your Health Care Agent can hire any kind of health care worker you need to help you or take care of you. Your Agent may also fire a health care worker, if needed.
Make the decision to request, take away or not give medical treatment, including artificially provided food and water and any other treatments to keep you alive.
See and approve release of your medical records and personal files. If you need to sign your name to get any of these files, your Health Care Agent can sign it for you.
Move you to another state to get the care you need or to carry out your wishes.
Authorize or refuse to authorize any medication or procedure needed to help with pain.
Take any legal action needed to carry out your wishes.
Donate useable organs or tissues of yours as allowed by law.
10.Apply for Medicare, Medicaid or other programs or insurance benefits for you. Your Health Care Agent can see your personal files, like bank records, to find out what is needed to fill out these forms.
If this is more responsibility than you want any one person to have, you can also limit or add to your Health Care Agents powers.
This person carries a lot of responsibility, so give some thought into choosing well.
Look for my next blog about advance care directives and determining the type of medical treatment you want – or don’t want.
