Every competent adult has the right to appoint a health care agent by executing a health care proxy according to Massachusetts State law. A health care proxy delegates to an agent, the authority to make health care decisions for the named adult. Health care proxy forms are Advance Directives.
BWH supports and promotes patient self-determination and patient centered decision making through the use of advance directives. BWH also ensures that health care professionals and designated representatives honor the directives within the limits of the law and in accordance to the Health Care Proxies and Living Wills Policy (BICS Administrative Policies I-23).
The JCAHO requires that there is documentation in the medical record of whether a patient does or does not have an Advance Directive. If the patient does not have an Advance Directive and wants to establish one, the hospital provides educational materials and forms for them to make an informed decision. Additionally, if a patient has an Advance Directive, but does not have a copy readily available, the health care professional instructs a family member to bring in the Advance Directive to be placed in the medical record. In essence, JCAHO Surveyors will want BWH to show that we have recorded the essence of any patient’s directive.
For additional information on Advance Directives, please contact either the Ethics Service at extension 8590 or Karen S. Nelson, Director of Corporate and Regulatory Compliance, extension at extension 5810.