Scary Life or Death Moment
from Sabrina Winters, Attorney at Law, PLLC
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Greetings!
It is 8:00 pm and the pain in your chest that you woke up with this morning is still there. You finally bring yourself to admit to your loved one that
maybe it's time to go to the hospital.
You can see them trying to conceal the worry on their face as they grab the car keys and hurry you out the
door to the emergency room. So many things are going through your mind right now and what's scary to you as well is that you never got around to putting in writing what your medical wishes are.
Unfortunately, I wish that I could tell you this is just a scary Halloween story; but unfortunately it is a real life reality. Without written instructions, the hospital will look to the next of kin to make the medical decisions if you cannot. What if it was your neighbor that had to drive you to the hospital and your neighbor has no idea how to get in touch with your loved ones? Having to get to the hospital in a hurry is frightening, but
there are simple straightforward ways to prepare yourself and your loved ones. A little bit of preparation now can relieve some of the anxiety for everyone: you, your family, your friend that drove you to the hospital and the hospital staff.
1. Make sure that you have a Healthcare Power of Attorney and that it is up to date.
This document names the person (or
persons) you would like to make medical
decisions for you if you cannot do
so. Review this document
periodically to make
sure your choice(s) is still the person(s) you want.
2. Make certain that you have a Living Will. This document states your
desires
regarding treatments you would (or would not) want to receive in
the hospital if you
cannot make these decisions yourself. Your living will is an important resource
for
your healthcare power of attorney should he/she need to make decisions
about your
care.
3. Make your decision
about organ donation and document it. In North Carolina, you
are permitted to make a designation on your license that you are an organ donor.
You can also make the same statement in your Healthcare Power of Attorney and
Living Will. One organ donor can save up to 8 lives and
the need far exceeds the
supply.
4. Talk to your loved
ones about your healthcare choices: who you've named as your
healthcare power
of attorney, what your medical wishes are, and whether you want to
be an
organ donor. The more they know in
advance, the easier it will be for them if
they ever have to step in. It is a heartbreaking decision to end someone's life, but
knowing they are following your wishes that you set out in writing is a gift from the
heart to your agent.
5. Update the emergency information
you store with DocuBank. This
includes your
allergies and medical conditions that display on your
Emergency Card and can help
with your emergency treatment. Also update your doctor's and emergency
contacts'
names and phone numbers.
At the hospital, the ER staff ask many
important live saving questions. One of them is whether you
have a living will or other healthcare directive (they may call it an "advance
directive"). You or your loved one
presents your DocuBank card. Hospital
staff can make immediate note of the allergies and medical conditions on your
card. They then use the card, which contains an 800# to obtain
your directives, adding them to your chart immediately.
There is no fuss about where your living will
is or who should go back home to get it. Now, if your neighbor was the person who took you to the hospital, he doesn't have to know how to call your loved ones, it's on your DocuBank card!!!Your card takes the stress off you and your family when the focus should
be on your health, not your healthcare directives. The doctor comes in and you start to relax a
little...
If you have questions about
your healthcare directives or how our Firm takes the extra steps to provide peace of mind for our clients, please call us at 704-843-1446. We'll be happy to help with a FREE CONSULTATION!
Have a Happy and Safe Halloween!
Sincerely,
Sabrina
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