Advance Directives

The decision to accept or refuse medical treatment is personal. What someone may consider acceptable may be unacceptable for someone else. In recent decades, medical technology has made it possible to keep critically ill or injured people alive after some of their vital organs stop working.

There are two types of advance directives:

1. A Living Will allows you to express your preferences if you cannot express your wishes.
2. A Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care allows you to name someone to make health care decisions for you if you cannot make them.

When you are admitted to the hospital, you will be asked if you have an advance directive. If a copy is on file, we will ask you if it is still consistent with your desires. If a copy is not on file, you will be asked to bring a copy to place in your electronic medical record.

More information and advance directives forms are available at each hospital:

• Fort Madison -- Marketing & Communications
• West Burlington -- Spiritual Care