Advance Directives

Helping you plan for your health care

The following information describes how decisions can be made about health care treatment in the event that one is unable to communicate decisions personally.

What is an advance directive?

A document in which a person states choices for medical treatment, or designates other(s) who will make treatment choices, in the event of one's losing his/her capacity to understand treatment options and consequences.

Two forms of advance directives:

Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care
This is an advance directive in which another is designated to make health care decisions for someone unable to do so.

Living Will
In this advance directive, a person specifies in writing treatments to be provided or withheld in the event a copy is given to the attending physician; the physician determines that the patient is both incompetent and permanently unconscious or in a terminal condition; a second physician examines the patient and confirms the findings.

You should seek your family attorney's advice regarding the completion of any advance directive.

Patient Rights

All persons have a right under the law to prepare advance directives for their health care.

At Bon Secours-Holy Family Regional Health System, we respect that right and will honor your decisions within the limits stated in this brochure, and will not perform procedures or treatments against your will.

Compliance with patient directives

The Catholic nature of Bon Secours-Holy Family means that it reserves the right to not comply with directives given directly by patients or through designated agents insofar as those directives conflict with moral and religious directives of the Catholic Church and/or the Sisters of Bon Secours and the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth.

In the event that Bon Secours-Holy Family is unwilling to comply with directives given by patient or delegate, the hospital will assist in efforts to transfer care to a compatible provider.

Further information can be obtained through the Family and Social Service Department by calling 949-4311.

This document cannot answer all questions about advance directives. You should discuss these matters with your family, your physician, priest, minister, rabbi or other counselor.