Advance Directive

The Advance Directive form is an opportunity for you to direct your health care in written form in the event that you cannot speak for yourself.

If after reading this information you have questions about the Advance Directive, please contact the Chaplains at Salem Hospital at 503-561-5562.

In today's world of medicine there are many medications, procedures, techniques and technologies that can be used to diagnose and treat illness.

It is up to you to give direction to your family, your physician, and the hospital medical staff about your care, what you want and do not want. How do you want to be treated medically? It is your right to be informed about the treatment you may receive. It is also your choice as to what medical treatments you want to receive and which ones you do not want.

However, if you are unable to give information or make clear decisions about your medical treatment due to an accident or illness that has left you unconscious or incapacitated how do you make certain that your wishes are known and followed? Who makes medical decisions for you when you cannot?

There are laws in the state of Oregon which provide a way, through written form, that you can make your wishes known and give direction to your family, physician, and hospital medical staff. Each state has its own unique form to accommodate the laws of that state.

The written form is called an Advance Directive. The Advance Directive is a form that you complete to direct your family and physician to provide the health care you want in the event you are unable to speak for yourself.

Advance Directives take the place of what used to be called "the living will" and "power of attorney for health care." The forms are free and available through your local hospital.

The Advance Directive form offers two options, two separate parts, each with their own purpose. The first option of the Advance Directive allows you to appoint a "health care representative" and an additional alternate representative, if you so desire.

You may choose family members, friends or legal guardians to be your representatives. Be careful to choose someone who knows you and your wishes, who will agree to follow your directions, and accept the responsibility for this trust you place in them.

The second option in the Advance Directive allows you to give specific instructions for your care to your physician. In this option four situations are described in which you may find yourself.

The scenarios are if you are close to death, if you are permanently unconscious, if you have an advanced progressive illness, or if you experience extraordinary suffering. You are asked to specify the care you want in each of the four situations.

The Advance Directive asks you to address two areas of care, "life support," and "tube feeding." Life support is defined as "any medical means for maintaining life, including procedures, devices and medications."

Tube feeding is defined as "food and water supplied artificially by medical device." The Advance Directive form allows you to specify to what degree you want to be treated with life support and tube feeding. It is important to remember that the Advance Directive instructions you designate only go into effect if you are unable to speak for yourself.

One of the most important aspects of completing the form is to discuss your wishes with your family members, your physician, and those whom you appoint as your health care representative(s).

The clearer you define your wishes, the better your representatives and your caregivers will be able to follow them. There is space on the form for you to give specific instructions beyond your decision about life support and tube feeding.

As a guide to help you approach making important medical care decisions and completing the Advance Directive form consider what you define as quality of life for yourself.

Your own values, religious faith, independence, support network, mental capacity and definition of life can guide you as you make important health care decisions. Upon completion of the Advance Directive you should make copies and distribute them to family members, your physician, and to the hospital at the time of your admission to be placed in your chart and permanent record.

If you have specific questions or need assistance in completing an Advance Directive you can contact your attorney, your own personal physician, or the Chaplains' Office here at Salem Hospital.

The chaplains can be reached at 503-561-5562. One of our chaplains will gladly assist you in obtaining the forms or answering any questions you may have as you complete the form.