Preparing Advanced Directives Can Be A Comfort To All

DANBURY — Death is a topic that usually does not get discussed, which makes planning for it that much more difficult, according to a panel that recently presented on the subject at Danbury Hospital. One of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to plan for an unexpected health problem is to establish an advanced directive.

An advanced directive is a written document a person creates that designates a surrogate decisionmaker in the event that person becomes unable to make medical decisions for him/herself.

Panelist Daniel O’Hare, PhD, said, “Advanced directives are decisions regarding treatments which are patient generated, medically respected, and most importantly, legally protected.”

Dr O’Hare also cited past incidences with complicated patient advanced directives, which included the Terry Schiavo case.

Advanced directives benefit all those involved by maintaining the voice of the patient in critical medical decisions, improving the accuracy of care, decreasing staff uncertainties regarding treatment, and relieving stress and guilt from family members.

“Our doctors here are Danbury Hospital are very good at accommodating advanced directives even if it’s from another state,” Julia MacMillan, RN, co-chairman of the Danbury Hospital Ethics Committee, said. “Being an ICU nurse for many years, I can’t tell you enough how important it is to have one.”

Ms MacMillan highlighted two major factors of composing an advanced directive, “Appoint a health care representative to support your wishes and compose a living will in case you cannot speak for yourself.”

She also pointed out the importance of overcoming discussion barriers that limit the topic of death in conversations.

It is essential the designated surrogate make medical decisions from the head, with much thought, and in the interest of the patient, rather from his or her own heart. Advanced directives should also be updated with new information every few years.

Danbury Hospital CARES Program Director Karen Mulvihill, APRN, focuses on the importance of respecting patient wishes with regard to advanced directives.

“We want to make the patient as comfortable as possible through the life ending stages,” Ms Mulvihill said.

Cynthia Roy Squitieri, MS, LCSW, executive director of Regional Hospice of Western Connecticut, spoke of hospice care for those near death and the impact on families.

“Hospice is specifically designed for patients with a six months or less prognosis from their physician,” Ms Roy Squitieri said. “Hospice also provides grief counseling to family members free of charge.”

Less than 50 percent of patients currently in hospice have a form of cancer. Eighty percent of Americans want to die within the comfort of their own homes and out of all patients in hospice programs, 74 percent have the opportunity to do so at home.

Advanced directive forms are available at Danbury Hospital and can be filled out and processed with no charge.

For more information about Danbury Hospital community health and wellness programs, go to www.danburyhospital.org. For event registration, service and physician referral, contact Danbury Hospital at 739-7000.