A federal law requires that adult patients receive information about their legal right to participate in decisions affecting their health care. One option available to every adult is the right to make advance directives. Advance directives make your medical wishes known before any problems or medical crises arise. The following information is provided as part of University of Utah Hospitals & Clinics' commitment to educate patients, families, and the community about advance directives.

Important terms

Advance directive

An instruction, given in advance, that tells others what health care you want if you can't communicate because of illness or injury.

Living will

This written legal document speaks for you if you are unable to communicate and are terminally ill or in a persistent vegetative state. This document can specify what kinds of lifesaving and life-maintaining care or treatment you do or do not want to receive in case of terminal illness. If you have a living will, you should bring a copy of it with you whenever you are admitted to a hospital. A living will has nothing to do with the distribution of your property.

Special medical power of attorney (also called durable medical power of attorney)

This legal document lets you appoint someone to make medical decisions for you if you become unable to speak for yourself. If you have a special medical power of attorney, you should bring a copy of it with you any time you are admitted to a hospital. This document gives legal power for medical decisions only, not property or financial matters.

Verbal directions

If you have made decisions about your care and told your doctor and/or family about them, these, too, are considered advance directives, even though they aren't written. You have the right to accept or refuse medical care or treatment after discussing it with your physician.

Terminally ill

A terminal condition, caused by injury or disease, will result in death no matter what life-sustaining procedures are used; the use of life-sustaining procedures would only postpone death.

Persistent vegetative state

A state of severe mental impairment in which only involuntary bodily functions are present.

Do not resuscitate order (also called DNR)

This medical order can be written by your physician, after discussions with you, your family, or proxy. It states you will not receive artificial breathing or chest compressions if you stop breathing or if your heart stops beating. DNR orders do not mean you will receive less treatment for pain or less attention to your comfort.

Organ donation

You can decide in advance whether you wish to be an organ donor. If you want to donate organs in the event of your death, complete an organ donation card and carry it with you. For further information, call 1-800-83-DONOR.

Utah State Law

Your right to decide

Utah law allows you to decide whether to accept or refuse medical treatment, even if that treatment might keep you alive. Should you become terminally ill, you may want to make a living will before you become unable to communicate your wishes. You may also appoint someone else to make medical decisions for you. This person is called a proxy. A proxy is named in a written document called a special medical power of attorney for health care. If you become unable to make decisions or communicate them, and there are no written direction, doctors will consult with your family members to make necessary decisions.

The law prohibits hospital employees from witnessing a living will or a special medical power of attorney. If you have questions concerning who can witness and other information about these advance directives, please call Customer Services at (801) 581-2668.

University of Utah hospital policy

Respecting your right to decide

University of Utah Hospitals & Clinics and Huntsman Cancer Hospital support your right to make advance directives (a living will or special medical power of attorney) about your health care. Adult patients will be informed about their right to participate in health care decisions. For adult patients without decision-making capacity, the hospital will provide all information about care options to the family or proxy. For patients under age 18, treatment options and decisions will be discussed with the patient and parents or legal guardian as indicated.

University Hospital and Huntsman Cancer Hospital health care providers will do their best to honor a living will, special medical power of attorney, or any other instruction you may have. In order to insure that your decisions will be honored, however, you need to communicate them to your physicians. All requests must be consistent with state and federal law.

In providing medical care, the hospital will not discriminate against any patient based on whether the patient has made an advance directive.

The best way to make sure your decisions are honored is to talk about them with your physicians and family before a crisis occurs.

Your relationship with Huntsman Cancer Hospital

Huntsman Cancer Hospital fully endorses the principles set forth in the American Hospital Association's "Patient Bill of Rights." We at the Huntsman Cancer Hospital strive to provide you with the highest quality of medical care and respect for human values.

It is our goal to provide:

• considerate, competent, and respectful care
• understandable information about your diagnosis, possible treatments, risks of treatment and likely outcome
• the opportunity to discuss any concerns you might have about your care
• the opportunity for you to actively participate in decisions about your health care. If you are unable to participate, we will involve your family or others, as directed by you, in decisions about your health care
• the opportunity to have an advance directive for your health care (living will or special power of attorney for medical treatment)
• the identity and role of health care providers involved in your care
• privacy and confidentiality, including access to your medical records as allowed by law
• individualized care which includes your spiritual, cultural, emotional, and physical needs
• continuity of care
• the medical services that are within our ability and that you request
• the opportunity to participate in research studies, or, to decline, as you choose
• information regarding specific policies and medical costs/payment plans upon request
• information about business relationships involving Huntsman Cancer Hospital that may influence your treatment and care

Your help is needed to achieve these goals by:

• telling your doctors, nurses, and other health care providers about past illnesses, hospitalizations, medications, or other related information
• telling us when you don't understand something about your medical condition or treatment
• telling your doctors, nurses, or others involved in your care if you will have difficulty following the prescribed plan of care
• following hospital rules and policies
• respecting the privacy of other patients and families
• providing the hospital with insurance information and making arrangements for timely payment of bills
• providing us with a copy of your written advance directives

We encourage you to discuss concerns or questions with your care providers. If you want to discuss your concerns further, please contact University of Utah Hospitals & Clinics Customer Services at (801) 581-2668.

Community resources for advance directives

These community groups have participated in developing information to educate patients about their health care rights and are available to answer questions.

UTAH MEDICAL ASSOCIATION

Val Bateman
(801) 355-7477 UTAH HEALTH CARE ASSOCIATION
(801) 994-3390

UTAH NURSES ASSOCIATION

(801) 293-8351 UTAH LEGAL SERVICES
(801) 328-8891
University Hospitals & Clinics

HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER

Customer Service Department
Salt Lake City, Utah 84132
Telephone: 801-581-2668
Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

"Being in the Hospital" - Table of Contents >>  What You Need to Know >>  Privacy Practices >>  Making Your Wishes Known (Advance Directives) >>  Financial Information