ADVANCED DIRECTIVES
Advanced directives are specific instructions, prepared in advance, that are intended to direct a person’s medical care. Advanced care directives allow clients and/or parents or guardians of clients to make decisions regarding the care they would prefer to receive if or when illness or life-threatening situations may arise. Advanced care directives can also designate someone the client/parent/guardian trusts to make decisions regarding medical care.
Advanced care directives can reduce:
- Personal worry,
- Futile, costly, specialized interventions which may not be wanted,
- Overall health care costs,
- Feelings of helplessness and guilt,
- Legal concerns for everyone involved.
This policy recognizes that all persons have a fundamental right to make their own decisions relating to medical treatment, including the right to accept or refuse medical care. We encourage individuals and their families to participate in decisions regarding care and treatment. It is also recommended that you discuss these with your medical team and have the instructions legally documented to avoid future difficulties. Such directives can be revoked at any time.
Advanced directives may include instructions for the following:
DNR: Do Not Resuscitate – A medical order to refrain from cardiopulmonary resuscitation if a patient's heart stops beating.
Palliative Care – Medical interventions intended to alleviate suffering, discomfort, and dysfunction (such as pain medication or treatment of an annoying infection), but not cure.
Surrogate Decision-Maker – A person appointed to make decisions for someone else, as in a durable power of attorney for health care (also called an agent).
Our clients are reminded that any misuse of an advanced directive should be reported to the Washington State hotline (1-800-633-6828).
Community Support Solutions
Community Support Solutions in emergency situations will follow the instructions of the client or the client’s parent or guardian or shall call 911 in the absence of such instructions.
It is recommended that the responsible parent or guardian of a minor child advise the care provider of their advanced care directives to assure that the provider will follow the instructions as written.
Advanced directive instructions should also be available to the CSS (Community Support Solutions) headquarters office, Edmonds, WA.
It is the client’s or the client’s parent or guardian’s responsibility to advise CSS and their Care Provider in writing if they do not wish to entrust this information with CSS or the Provider.
