[Rhodes22-list] Not About Sailing - About Advance Directives!

[Bill Effros]

Nell,

Great thread, of course on everyone's mind, the moment will pass and 
most of us won't get around to it.

You can't send forms to everyone who will express an interest, and there 
are probably some legal issues if you try to do so.

Here is the first site that popped up in Google:

http://www.lawdepot.com/contracts/healthdir/preview.php

What do you think?  I'm sure there are 100 more sites that do 
essentially the same thing.  If someone did it for free, more people 
would actually have advance directives--if that is your goal.

I'm sure it would be possible to interest some group in setting up such 
a site.

What you have written is clear and concise.  Everyone who responds to it 
will want to be able to get to the next step.  Do you propose to provide 
the next step, or point to the next step?

We're all hoping your answer is "yes".

Bill Effros

Nell wrote:

>Actually, 
>I can send you state-specific Health Care Power of Attorney, Living Will,
>Desire for a Natural Death, etc. forms which you can complete, have
>notarized, and give to your agent, next-of-kin, physician, and attorney.
>Just let me know what state you live in.
>It is important to remember that when you cross state lines, you need a
>different advance directive.
>If you are just traveling, carrying a copy of your home state advance
>directive can serve as a template to treating physicians.
>Thanks for the feedback.
>Nell
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org
>[mailto:rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org] On Behalf Of Rob Lowe
>Sent: Monday, March 28, 2005 8:07 PM
>To: The Rhodes 22 mail list
>Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Not About Sailing - About Advance Directives!
>
>Nell,
>Interesting timing.  I was looking at advanced directives this morning after
>the fiasco being played out in the Schiavo case.  Any suggested web sites
>you might add to your article? - Rob
>
>----- Original Message ----- 
>From: "Nell" <nellwolfe at cox.net>
>To: "'The Rhodes 22 mail list'" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
>Sent: Monday, March 28, 2005 12:54 PM
>Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Not About Sailing - About Advance Directives!
>
>
>  
>
>>For All the Rhodes 22 folks out there,
>>
>>I have written the following article for submission as a freelance writer.
>>
>>I would appreciate your comments please.
>>
>>
>>
>>I am an Advanced Care Planning Facilitator. It is my job to help
>>    
>>
>interested
>  
>
>>people in understanding the different methods
>>by which they may make their wishes known regarding the extent to which
>>    
>>
>they
>  
>
>>would like to be kept alive in the event that
>>they experience an event which renders them in varying degrees of
>>incapacitation.
>>
>>The first thing the reader should keep in mind is that NO Advanced
>>    
>>
>Directive
>  
>
>>means that family or the courts will ultimately
>>make decisions about you based on what they want for you - not what you
>>    
>>
>want
>  
>
>>for you!
>>
>>The belief that "everybody who knows me knows what I want in the event I
>>    
>>
>am
>  
>
>>no longer able to speak for myself" is the same
>>as leaving it up to family, friends, and the courts. Terri Schiavo is the
>>object of a bitter struggle between her husband, her parents,
>>and the courts precisely because she left no advanced directives IN
>>    
>>
>WRITING!
>  
>
>>Recollections, reported past conversations, and
>>incidental remarks purportedly made by Ms. Schiavo are all that is
>>    
>>
>available
>  
>
>>to attempt to determine what her wishes might be.
>>
>>Secondly, it does not need to cost a penny to complete an Advanced
>>Directive. Yes, you can formulate a Healthcare Power of
>>Attorney or Living Will through an attorney but you can just as easily
>>complete such a document whenever you or a loved one
>>seeks care at a hospital or medical care facility.
>>
>>While the specific names for the documents and some of the details
>>    
>>
>contained
>  
>
>>within the documents vary according to state,
>>the essence of making the specifics of what you would like to have done or
>>not done when you can no longer speak for yourself
>>are similar nationwide. The basis for encouraging the formulation of such
>>directives is a respect for individual well-being and
>>the right to self-determination.
>>
>>In fact, as the result of congressional passage of the Patient Self
>>Determination Act in 1991, all health institutions (hospitals,
>>long term care facilities, hospices, home health agencies) in all 50
>>    
>>
>states
>  
>
>>are required to ask all adults on admission if they have a
>>written advance directive and document their responses. Further, these
>>health institutions must provide written information to
>>adults about their right to refuse medical and/or surgical treatment under
>>the state statutes and standards and policies of the institution.
>>
>>Thirdly, a person may change their written directive at any time.
>>
>>To begin to think about what it means to "live well" means that each of us
>>may consider our personal values, goals, religious and
>>cultural beliefs. In this way we can begin to understand what we envision
>>for ourselves as we live out our lives in the best possible
>>manner. By making specific end-of-life treatment choices, each of us can
>>begin to fashion a plan for "living well".
>>
>>It is important to keep in mind that the types of decisions we make are
>>greatly influenced by our health status. Healthy adults need
>>only to begin to think about what they would like. While considering their
>>options, it is important to begin to consider who they
>>would like to act as their agent or spokesperson when end-of-life issues
>>arise. Conversation with possible spokespersons is very
>>important so that the agent knows clearly what the person wants and their
>>feelings about types of interventions.
>>
>>People with incurable, progressive diseases like cancer, congestive heart
>>failure, kidney failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
>>need to understand the progression of their disease and treatment
>>    
>>
>decisions
>  
>
>>they may likely face in the future. Knowing some of the
>>outcome statistics may help the person better understand the benefits and
>>burdens of life-sustaining treatments.
>>
>>Patients who are living in long term care facilities or are expected to
>>    
>>
>die
>  
>
>>within 12 months need to begin to consider what they feel
>>would be a "good death". In other words, how do they envision living out
>>their final months and days in the best way possible?
>>It is time to talk about resuscitation - its likely outcome; options for
>>withdrawing life-sustaining treatment if the treatments no longer
>>serve the purpose of facilitating a "good death"; comfort care - what it
>>means to the patient and under what circumstances would they
>>want their symptoms controlled even if that meant that death might be
>>hastened.
>>
>>Most importantly, everyone owes it to themselves and to their loved ones
>>    
>>
>to
>  
>
>>begin to think about advance care planning.
>>Talk to your family, talk to your doctor, talk to your clergy. Ask
>>    
>>
>yourself
>  
>
>>the tough questions, then formulate a plan that reflects
>>what you want for yourself. Take the burden of deciding off your loved
>>    
>>
>ones.
>  
>
>>That is the best legacy of all.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>__________________________________________________
>>Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
>>    
>>
>
>__________________________________________________
>Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
>
>__________________________________________________
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>
>  
>