Inpatient: Advance Directives

Advance Directives are written documents that you complete and sign regarding your care in case you become terminally ill or permanently unconscious. These documents allow you to make decisions now about how your medical care would proceed if your condition worsens and you cannot make your wishes known.

Durable Power of Attorney for Medical Care

A Durable Power of Attorney for medical care lets you choose someone to make your healthcare decisions for you in case you cannot make these decisions on your own. The person acts for you if you can’t act for yourself. You can choose any adult relative or friend. Be sure to talk with that person and your doctor about such medical treatments. The person you choose must follow your wishes.

Living Will

A Living Will allows you to put your wishes about your medical care in writing. You can choose how much life-sustaining treatment you wish to undergo if you become terminally ill and/or permanently unconscious. The people giving you medical care must do what you say in your Living Will. Only you can change or cancel your Living Will, and you can do so at any time.

Do-Not Resuscitate Order

State regulations offer a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Comfort Care and Comfort Care Arrest Protocol as developed by the Ohio Department of Health. A DNR Order is a directive issued by a physician or, under certain circumstances, a certified nurse specialist that identifies a person who specifies that CPR should not be administered.
You should talk to your doctor about the DNR Comfort Care and Comfort Care Arrest Order and Protocol options.

If you give an Advance Directive that complies with state law to an admitting or nursing Caregiver, it is entered into your medical record. However, you do not need to have an Advance Directive in order to be treated at St. Vincent Charity Hospital; our staff gives the most complete, compassionate care to all patients.

If you wish, a member of the Pastoral Care team can give you more information about Advance Directives while you are at St. Vincent Charity Hospital. Contact them at extension 33312 on your Hospital room phone.