There are two legal documents that protect your right to refuse medical treatment you do not want, or to request treatment if you do want, in the event you loose the ability to make decisions for yourself:
- The Iowa Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare is one kind of advance directive. A DPA states whom you have chosen to make health care decisions for you. It becomes active any time you are unconscious or unable to make medical decisions.
- The Iowa Declaration is your state’s living will. A living will is one type of advance directive. It is a written, legal document that describes the kind of treatments or life sustaining treatments you would want if you were seriously or terminally ill. A living will doesn’t let you select someone to make decisions for you.It is the policy of Pierce Street Same Day Surgery Center to recognize the Health Care Agent of the patient should circumstances require, but in the event of an emergency the patient will be stabilized and transferred to a hospital as soon as possible. Therefore, Pierce Street Same Day Surgery Center will not acknowledge DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) orders on any patient while in this Pierce Street Same Day Surgery Center.
For information on advanced directives, reference:
www.noah-health.org/en/rights/endoflife/adforms.html (by state).