ADVANCE CARE PLANNING
It can be difficult for doctors and loved ones to know what kind of treatment you want if you are
unable to tell them. The best way to make sure your wishes are respected is to discuss them with
your health care provider and your loved ones while you’re healthy and then fill out an Advance
Directive form.
Once completed, copies should be given to your health care provider and to those closest to you, so
they can help carry out your wishes. We hope you will consider filling one out.
What is an Advance Directive?
An Advance Directive is a way to protect your right to choose or refuse medical treatment. Alabama
law allows you, as an adult, to give instructions to your doctors before you become too ill to make your
own decisions. The UAB Health System has both inpatient and outpatient facilities that can provide
Advance Directive information to you. Federal law states that when you are admitted to a hospital, you
must be asked if you have or want to complete an Advance Directive, even though you may not have a
chronic or terminal illness. The hospital may accept an Advance Directive written in another state if it
meets the Alabama requirement.
There are two types of Advance Directive — a living will and a durable power of attorney for health
care. You may also appoint a health care proxy in your living will, which is explained on the next page.
If you need a living will or organ donation form, they can be provided to you.
Am I required to have an Advance Directive?
You do not have to have an Advance Directive. The UAB Health System is committed to preserving life
and easing pain and suffering for every patient under our care. We will provide medical and nursing
care to prevent pain and suffering and to provide comfort no matter what choice you make about
cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or other treatment.
We will provide medically necessary and appropriate treatment, including CPR, unless a decision
not to perform CPR has already been made or you have a living will that states you don’t want such
treatment. CPR is an attempt to restart your heart or breathing if it stops. Your doctor is responsible
for telling you about your health problems and how treatment will or won’t help so you can make a
choice about CPR and other treatment.
Why does it help to have an Advance Directive?
An Advance Directive helps your doctor know what you would choose in times of:
• Terminal illness — where death is expected to occur within six months despite all medical
treatment, or where life is impossible unless we use a treatment like a breathing machine, such as a
ventilator; or
• Permanent unconsciousness — a condition expected to last permanently without improvement,
where you are unable to think, feel, move, or interact with others, and where you are not aware of
yourself or your surroundings.
26