Mercy Medical Center recognizes that patients, by law, have the right to participate in decision-making regarding medical care and the right to accept or refuse treatment, including life-sustaining treatment. This law not only gives you the right to refuse treatment, it also protects your right to receive treatment.

An Advance Directive for Health Care is a general term for documents in which you express your wishes about life-prolonging procedures. Frequently used Advance Directives for Health care are a Living Will and a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care.

Living Will - a document that contains a general statement regarding continued health care when you are incapable of making health care decisions and are terminally ill.

Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care - a document in which you formulate statements concerning continued health care when you are incapable of making health care decisions for yourself. This document includes naming an agent and an alternate who will act consistently with your desires as stated in the document. The document must be notarized or witnessed when you sign it.

Federal law requires that Mercy Medical Center ask you whether or not you have an Advance Directive when you are admitted to the hospital. If you do not have one, you may request assistance from the Pastoral Care Department staff to complete an Advance Directive. If you already have a Living Will or Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care, please provide Mercy with a copy, and it will become part of your medical record.