News
End-of-life directives not only for seniors
By Ellen Sussman
Special to the Green Valley News
“It’s important to formalize the process for end-of-life — that your directives are followed and your family has the information they need,” said Community Outreach and Development Coordinator Deborah Totten of Carondelet Hospice and Palliative Care.
Totten was the guest speaker at La Posada’s monthly forum recently, and though she spoke to a senior audience, she said the information is relevant to anyone 18 years and older. “And not only for those with an illness,” she said. “We keep seeing those tragic landmark cases. Have this conversation with adult children and grandchildren.”
As of 1990, Arizonans can accept or decline medical treatment. Totten said by having “clear and convincing evidence what you would have chosen for yourself” a person named as Medical Power of Attorney can act for a person no longer able to make such decisions.
A Medical Power of Attorney need not be a relative but should be a committed to honoring one’s health care wishes, beliefs and values.
Totten said a Living Will clearly states one’s wishes and the need for someone to carry out those wishes.
A “Do Not Resuscitate” (DNR) order, which dictates if medical personnel should attempt to revive a person in a medical emergency, can be obtained from the Arizona Department of Health. It must be on bright orange paper and signed by a physician to be valid. A wallet-size form is valid in Arizona.
However, Totten pointed out that in a true medical emergency where there may not be time to go through a person’s wallet a DNR bracelet is more noticeable.
“It’s not a perfect system. That’s why it’s important to have a Medical Power of Attorney in addition to a DNR order.
“A Living Will doesn’t only limit one’s treatment, it can give directives to continue one’s medical care. These documents are meant to be dynamic,” she said.
Five Wishes
Arizona is one of 40 states that recognize the Five Wishes associated with end-of-life and should be included with Advanced Directives.
Wish No. 1 has a person name a Medical Power of Attorney. This is the person one entrusts to make medical decisions when he or she is no longer able to do so.
Wish No. 2 relates to the type of medical treatment a person wants in an end-of-life context and allows for personalizing a Living Will.
Wish Nos. 3, 4 and 5 respectively focus on how comfortable a patient wants to be, how a patient wants to be treated, and one’s closure wishes — what they want their loved ones to know.
Arizona’s Advanced Directive Registry
Not known to many residents is the state’s Advanced Directives Registry. Available through the Secretary of State’s office, it allows one’s directives to be available 24/7 to medical professionals through a secure we bsite.
Once a person sends a copy of signed Advanced Directives to the Secretary of State a wallet card, with a password for physicians, will be issued allowing the physician to copy and print the document. A DNR order is not part of this process.
For persons with dementia or Alzheimer’s Disease, a separate mental health care form is available from the Secretary of State’s office.
For single copies of the Five Wishes and accompanying papers, or to have Deborah Totten talk to a group or HOA, contact her at dtotten@carondelet.org.
Ellen Sussman is a freelance writer in Green Valley. Contact her at ellen2414@cox.net.
“It’s important to formalize the process for end-of-life — that your directives are followed and your family has the information they need,” said Community Outreach and Development Coordinator Deborah Totten of Carondelet Hospice and Palliative Care.
Totten was the guest speaker at La Posada’s monthly forum recently, and though she spoke to a senior audience, she said the information is relevant to anyone 18 years and older. “And not only for those with an illness,” she said. “We keep seeing those tragic landmark cases. Have this conversation with adult children and grandchildren.”
As of 1990, Arizonans can accept or decline medical treatment. Totten said by having “clear and convincing evidence what you would have chosen for yourself” a person named as Medical Power of Attorney can act for a person no longer able to make such decisions.
A Medical Power of Attorney need not be a relative but should be a committed to honoring one’s health care wishes, beliefs and values.
Totten said a Living Will clearly states one’s wishes and the need for someone to carry out those wishes.
A “Do Not Resuscitate” (DNR) order, which dictates if medical personnel should attempt to revive a person in a medical emergency, can be obtained from the Arizona Department of Health. It must be on bright orange paper and signed by a physician to be valid. A wallet-size form is valid in Arizona.
However, Totten pointed out that in a true medical emergency where there may not be time to go through a person’s wallet a DNR bracelet is more noticeable.
“It’s not a perfect system. That’s why it’s important to have a Medical Power of Attorney in addition to a DNR order.
“A Living Will doesn’t only limit one’s treatment, it can give directives to continue one’s medical care. These documents are meant to be dynamic,” she said.
Five Wishes
Arizona is one of 40 states that recognize the Five Wishes associated with end-of-life and should be included with Advanced Directives.
Wish No. 1 has a person name a Medical Power of Attorney. This is the person one entrusts to make medical decisions when he or she is no longer able to do so.
Wish No. 2 relates to the type of medical treatment a person wants in an end-of-life context and allows for personalizing a Living Will.
Wish Nos. 3, 4 and 5 respectively focus on how comfortable a patient wants to be, how a patient wants to be treated, and one’s closure wishes — what they want their loved ones to know.
Arizona’s Advanced Directive Registry
Not known to many residents is the state’s Advanced Directives Registry. Available through the Secretary of State’s office, it allows one’s directives to be available 24/7 to medical professionals through a secure we bsite.
Once a person sends a copy of signed Advanced Directives to the Secretary of State a wallet card, with a password for physicians, will be issued allowing the physician to copy and print the document. A DNR order is not part of this process.
For persons with dementia or Alzheimer’s Disease, a separate mental health care form is available from the Secretary of State’s office.
For single copies of the Five Wishes and accompanying papers, or to have Deborah Totten talk to a group or HOA, contact her at dtotten@carondelet.org.
Ellen Sussman is a freelance writer in Green Valley. Contact her at ellen2414@cox.net.
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