Advance Directives

You have a right to make your own healthcare decisions. As your healthcare providers, we would like to honor your wishes regarding your healthcare. Thus, as a program we strongly encourage patients to fill out an advance directive. When you provide instructions, verbally or in writing, as to your wishes regarding future healthcare decisions, it is called an advanced directive. Because there could be a time during the transplant process when you are too sick to think or communicate clearly, advance directives can help to guide your healthcare team and your family as to your healthcare wishes and values.

The two main types of advance directives you should consider filling out before coming to transplant include:

• Living will 
• Medical durable power of attorney

A living will is a document that expresses your wishes and desires regarding artificial life support if you become terminally ill. A medical durable power of attorney appoints someone (for example, a family member, significant other or friend) whom you entrust to express your healthcare wishes if you are unable to do so for yourself. There are different forms to help in creating an advance directive. We can provide you with one such form, The Five Wishes document, for you to use if you wish. If you fill out an advance directive, please provide us with a copy to place in your chart. You should always retain the original.

Although it can be difficult to talk about these issues with family members, it can be invaluable for family members to understand your healthcare wishes and values so they can carry out your wishes if that becomes necessary. The transplant psychologist or social worker will discuss advance directive issues with you and can assist you in filling out the necessary forms.