Advance Directives Consumer Version

Different types of Different types of
Advance Directives Advance Directives

Instructional: Agent Driven:
An Instructional Advanced Directive This legal document names someone to be
allows competent people to instruct a consumer’s health care agent in the event
providers regarding the health care they he/she is no longer competent. This is
would like to receive during a time of called Durable Power of Attorney (DPOA)
crisis. Particularly when a person is and the health care agent may be called a
unable to make their own decisions. “proxy agent” or “attorney-in-fact.”

Options for Instructional Advance DPOA: Durable Power of Attorney
Directives: With a DPOA, a consumer empowers the
A) Willing to live attorney-in-fact to make medical treatment
A special case of an Advanced Directive, decisions on behalf of a consumer when he
which describes the conditions in which or she is unable to
life supports would or would not be
provided to an incompetent person Instructional and Agent Driven
B) Statement of Mental Health Advance Directives
Treatment Wishes: A consumer can create both an
An advance Directive where, among “instructional” Advance Directive clearly
other things, consumer can state: stating his/her wishes AND have a durable
1) Emergency intervention references power of attorney (DPOA) to ensure that
2) Consent or non-consent for the consumer’s wishes are followed as
experimental studies or drug trials stated in the Instructional Advance
3) Who is to be prohibited from visiting Directive.
him/her in the hospital.
Consumer Action Network
What if I want to change my
Advance Directive? 1300 L Street, NW, Suite 1000
Washington, DC 20005
You can change or cancel your Advance Directives
at any time. You can write new ones, destroy old 202.842.0001 | 202.842.2685 (f)
ones, and/or tell those involved in your care that
you changed your mind. It is very important to let Email: [email protected]
everyone involved in your health care, including Website: www.can-dc.org or
mental health professionals, know that your
wishes changed . find us on Facebook

Yes You Can! Consumer Action Network (CAN) is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization established by
consumers. CAN’s mission is the empowerment of mental health consumers by promoting

recovery and self advocacy.

What is an Why are Advance Directives How do Advance Directives aid
Advance Directive? Important? the recovery process?

Purpose:  Advance Directives are required by Dixon  Provides context for consumer-driven
Exit Criteria and MHRS (Mental Health treatment
An Advance Directive is a legal document Rehabilitation Services) Certification
that allows mental health and/or substance Standards as an option to consumers for  Encourages consumers to plan proactively
abuse consumers to state their medical and crisis planning for their recovery
mental health care wishes in advance in
case of occasions when they are unable to  Advance Directives proactively state a  Sets the stage for an on-going partnering
do so for themselves. consumer’s treatment wishes during times relationships with care provider
in which they may be incapacitated
Legal Nature:  Enables consumers to become more
 Serves as a tool to help consumers and responsible/accountable in their treatment
I. An Advance Directive must be in writing. their treatment providers work as partners
in the treatment planning, according to An Advance Directive is a
II. Created at the discretion of the recovery principles. Your Plan not Your
consumer.
How can Advance Directives “Care Provider’s” Plan
III. Require consumers be competent at the be useful to you?
time they write and sign any legal  Make sure you take your time writing their
document. HELPS: You think about what works and Advance Directive.
does not work in a your mental health
IV. Requires signature of consumers stating treatment  Think carefully about the family members,
that their Advance Directives reflect their peers, providers, friends, and loved ones. Be
wishes. FOSTERS: Discussions about treatment certain you trust them to ensure your treat-
options/preference between you, providers, ment preferences are followed as written.
V. Requires the signature of two outside and loved ones
witnesses confirming that the consumer is  Make certain everyone involved in your
of sound mind at the time they requested EMPOWERS: You to make your own Advanced Directive has given their consent.
an Advance Directive. decisions for care in advance
 Ask for resources that empower your
VI. Witnesses are not employees of health GIVES: You an opportunity for more approach to creating your Advance Direc-
care provider; at least one witness must be control in your treatment planning tive. Consider using Initial Advance Direc-
related by blood, marriage, or adoption, tive planning worksheet to help get you
and to the best of their knowledge, not started.
entitled to any part of the consumers
estate.  Be as specific as possible in when writing
your instructions in a DPOA .