Advance Directives

When you come to the hospital, you are asked if you have an Advance Directive. Advance Directives are forms that allow you to make your healthcare wishes known in writing when you are not able to speak for yourself. This may happen when you are: unconscious, terminally ill, or confused and cannot make informed decisions. In Ohio, there are 5 Advance Directives: Living Will for Healthcare, Healthcare Power of Attorney, Do Not Resuscitate (DNR), Organ and Tissue Donation, and Mental Health Declaration. You may be asked to provide us with copies of these documents, so we have your wishes on file regarding your medical care.

Patients have the right to complete an Advance Directive and expect that it will be honored. If your physician is not able to respect your wishes he or she will assist you in getting another physician to honor your wishes. Often care choices can be resolved by talking about them with your doctor and family. Whether you have an Advance Directive or not, you will still be cared for in the hospital.

To help you better understand what these documents are, a brochure and/or Advance Directive packet will be made available to you on admission with detailed information explaining the choices you have to make your healthcare wishes known, including your right to accept or refuse medical treatment.

Please inform the staff if you have any further questions or would like additional information and/or assistance to complete an Advance Directive. A patient representative is on staff to answer any questions about Advance Directives or assist you to complete the documents – the Living Will or Healthcare Power of Attorney. To contact the patient representative, please call 419-394-3335, extension 2102.