National Health Care Decisions Day, April 16, reminds us that everyone can benefit from taking time to think, talk and do something about future health care decisions. “By completing a health care decision form, Missourians can control what happens to them should they be unable to tell others what medical treatments they want or don’t want,” says Missouri Bar President John S. Johnston. As a public service, The Missouri Bar offers a free health care decisions form, the Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care & Health Care Directive. The form comes with instructions and is available online at www.mobar.org. It can be ordered via email at mobar@mobar.org or by through the mail at The Missouri Bar, 326 Monroe St., Jefferson City, MO. 65101.
The Missouri Bar legal form lets family and medical personnel know what a person’s health care choices are, directing them to follow those choices should he or she become incapacitated and unable to make decisions or to communicate those decisions. A Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care names someone to make decisions for another person, when needed. A health care directive indicates treatment choices about life-prolonging procedures, if a person becomes persistently unconscious or at the end-stage of a terminal illness. The forms can be filled out without an attorney, but people with concerns or questions may want to consult their lawyer who may customize the forms to conform to any special choices.
“Don’t wait for an emergency or health crisis to complete these forms,” said Missouri Bar President Johnston. “People should complete these legal documents while they are in good health. It may be too late if they are in an accident or have a sudden, debilitating illness.”
A HIPAA Privacy Authorization Form is also included in The Missouri Bar’s health care decisions booklet. This form permits Missourians to have their medical records and information released to another individual.
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