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Make advance decisions about advanced life-prolonging technology

If you were in a car accident and suffered permanent brain injury with no expectations of regaining consciousness, what would be your ideal medical treatment plan? Would you want aggressive treatment utilizing all available technology for as long as possible? Would you want to be taken off life support after a specific amount of time?

"Individuals have different views on life sustaining medical treatment, from CPR to life support," says Boscobel Area Health Care Medical Social Worker Heather Schneider. "Having an advance directive allows you to communicate your beliefs in advance, in a legal document."

"I always tell people it's like insurance. You may never need it, but if you do, you will be very glad you have it," says Long Term Care Social Worker Tracy Atkinson.

Atkinson and Schneider will be at the Boscobel Area Health Care fair booth on Thursday, August 14th from Noon to 3:00, and on Saturday, August 16th from 9:00 a.m. to Noon. Interested persons can stop by the booth; no appointment necessary.

Atkinson explains that the State of Wisconsin does not automatically assume your spouse will be your decision maker in the event you are unable to make decisions for yourself. "This means that without an advance directive, if I suddenly lose my ability to think or process information, such as brain damage from an accident or stroke, my husband would have to petition the court in order to be my medical decision maker," says Atkinson. "This can be very costly, and can pull families apart."

An advance directive allows you to name agents to make your decisions. You can list first, second, and third choices. "If signed and witnessed appropriately, this becomes a legal document and can be of great value to your family," say Atkinson.

"There is really no good reason not to complete one," says Adkins. "Some people are afraid they are giving away their right to make their own medical decisions. In truth, it is the opposite. It ensures your decisions are honored when you are unable to communicate them. The document has no authority until it is activated, meaning you are unable to speak for yourself."

Atkinson said "being unable to speak for yourself" refers to cognition and thought process, not the physical inability to speak.

Anyone 18 years of age or older can complete an advance directive.

Schneider says the document takes about 30 minutes to complete. Prior to completing the document, people should consider who they would name as agents, gather address and phone information for those people, and think about the level of medical care they would want in the future.

"Would I want CPR initiated if I were to have a sudden cardiac arrest? Would I want aggressive treatment if I have an incurable illness, injury, or am dying? What things would be important to me? These are all questions you need to ask yourself, and discuss with your assigned agent," says Atkinson.

Atkinson and Schneider are available to meet with individuals by appointment to complete advance directives. Appointments can be made by calling the hospital or nursing home at 375-4112. Atkinson says Boscobel Area Health Care provides this service free of charge "because we believe it is that important to have one."