Advance Directives

Boone County Hospital will follow the medical treatment decisions you or your advocate make after consulting with a physician, provided that your decisions meet accepted medical practice and current ethical standards.

An Advance Directive is a document that explains your wishes regarding treatment in case you are not able to make health care decisions.

 

Take a look at our End of Life Care and Advance Directives presentation by Addison Enns, BCH Social Worker.

 

Iowa law recognizes two kinds of Advance Directive documents:

• A Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care is a document that allows you to name another person (called an agent or attorney-in-fact) to make health care decisions for you if you are unable to speak for yourself. If your wishes are not known, your attorney-in-fact or agent must make decisions that are in your best interests.

• A Living Will is a document that lets you tell your physician which life-sustaining procedures should be withheld or withdrawn if you have a terminal condition and are unable to speak for yourself.

Both documents take affect only when you cannot make health care decisions for yourself. Both documents must be signed by you and two witnesses, or notarized. 

Additional documents:

• IPOST helps health providers guide and support the patient and their families during this sensitive time.  A completed IPOST creates a clear declaration of the patient's healthcare treatment choices and assures that the patient's wishes are fulfilled at the prescribed time.

• The Gift of Peace of Mind is a step-by-step guide to assist you in preparing Advance Directive documents.