Good advance planning for health care decisions is, in reality, a continuing conversation, about values, priorities, the meaning of one's life, and quality of life. With the increasing ability of medical science to sustain our lives, people are living much longer than ever before. Unfortunately, as we grow older and experience poor health, we may find ourselves in a position where decisions need to be made as to how we wish to be treated in a variety of medical situations at the end of our lives. Further, sometimes we find ourselves in a condition where we can no longer express our preferences. Advance health care directives allow us to deal with these situations. Without such directives, your family may find it necessary to obtain court orders to deal with your medical situation.
By expressing such preferences in a written legal document, you are ensuring that your preferences are made known. Physicians prefer these documents because they provide a written expression from you as to your medical care and designate for the physician the person he or she should consult concerning unanswered medical questions. Rather than the physician having to obtain a consensus answer from your family as to your treatment, the physician knows your preferences and knows who you want to provide decisions when you cannot do so. Making your wishes known in advance prevents family members from making such choices at what is likely one of the most stressful times in their lives.
Because the scope of Thomas Eye Surgery Center is limited to elective outpatient surgical procedures, it is the policy of this facility, that any life-threatening situation that arises will be immediately treated with life-sustaining measures. Concurrently, the emergency medical system (EMS) will be activated for emergency patient transport to a hospital facility. The patient’s right and need to be an active participant in the decision making process regarding their care is recognized and respected. Acknowledgement of this policy does not revoke or invalidate any current health care directive or health care power of attorney. If you have an executed advance directive, please bring a copy with you on the day of surgery. If you would like more information on advance directives please ask.
