[Health Care Directive] California

Using these Materials

BEFORE YOU BEGIN

1. Check to be sure that you have the materials for each state in which you may receive health care.

2. These materials include:
– Instructions for preparing your advance directive, please read all the instructions.
– Your state-specific advance directive forms, which are the pages with the gray instruction bar on the left side.

1. You may want to photocopy or print a second set of these forms before you start so you will have a clean copy if you need to start over.

2. When you begin to fill out the forms, refer to the gray instruction bars — they will guide you through the process.

3. Talk with your family, friends, and physicians about your advance directive. Be sure the person you appoint to make decisions on your behalf understands your wishes.

4. Once the form is completed and signed, photocopy the form and give it to the person you have appointed to make decisions on your behalf, your family, friends, health care providers and/or faith leaders so that the form is available in the event of an emergency.

5. California maintains an Advance Directive Registry. By filing your advance directive with the registry, your health care provider and loved ones may be able to find a copy of your directive in the event you are unable to provide one. You can read more about the registry, including instructions on how to file your advance directive, at http://www.sos.ca.gov/ahcdr/forms.htm.

6. You may also want to save a copy of your form in an online personal health records application, program, or service that allows you to share your medical documents with your physicians, family, and others who you want to take an active role in your advance care planning.

INTRODUCTION TO YOUR CALIFORNIA ADVANCE HEALTH CARE DIRECTIVE

This packet contains a legal document, a California Advance Health Care Directive, that protects your right to refuse medical treatment you do not want, or to request treatment you do want, in the event you lose the ability to make decisions yourself. You may complete any or all of the first four parts, depending on your advance planning needs. You must complete part 5.

Part 1 is a Power of Attorney for Health Care. This part lets you name someone (an agent) to make decisions about your health care. Unless otherwise written in your advance directive, your power of attorney for health care becomes effective when your primary doctor determines that you lack the ability to understand the nature and consequences of your health care decisions or the ability to make and communicate your health care decisions. If you want your agent to make health care decisions for you now, even though you are still capable of making health care decisions, you can include this instruction in your power of attorney for health care designation.

Part 2 includes your Individual Instructions. This is your state’s living will. It lets you state your wishes about health care in the event that you can no longer speak for yourself and you may limit the individual instructions to take effect only if a specified condition arises.

Part 3 allows you to express your wishes regarding organ donation.

Part 4 of this form lets you designate a physician to have primary responsibility for your health care.

Part 5 contains the signature and witnessing provisions so that your document will be effective.

This form does not expressly address mental illness. If you would like to make advance care plans regarding mental illness, you should talk to your physician and an attorney about an advance directive tailored to your needs.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR YOUR CALIFORNIA ADVANCE HEALTH CARE DIRECTIVE

How do I make my advance health care directive legal?

You must sign and date your advance directive or direct an adult to do so for you if you are unable to sign it yourself.

Your signature must be witnessed by or you must acknowledge your signature before a notary public or two adult witnesses. Your two adult witnesses may not be

• your health care provider or an employee of your health care provider,
• the operator or an employee of a community care facility,
• the operator or an employee of a residential care facility for the elderly, or
• the person you have appointed as an agent, if you have appointed an

In addition, one of your witnesses must be unrelated to you by blood, marriage, or adoption and not entitled to any portion of your estate.

If you are a patient in a skilled nursing facility when you execute your advance directive, one of your witnesses must be a patient advocate or ombudsman.

Whom should I appoint as my agent?

Your agent is the person you appoint to make decisions about your health care if you become unable to make those decisions yourself. Your agent may be a family member or a close friend whom you trust to make serious decisions. The person you name as your agent should clearly understand your wishes and be willing to accept the responsibility of making health care decisions for you.

Your agent cannot be

• your supervising health care provider,
• the operator of a community care facility or residential care facility where you are receiving care, or
• the employee of a health care institution where you are receiving care or employee of a community care facility or residential care facility where you are receiving care, unless:
  • the employee is related to you by blood, marriage, or adoption,
  • the employee is your registered domestic partner, or
  • the employee is your coworker at the facility or institution.

If you have a conservator appointed for you as part of involuntary commitment proceedings under the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act, that conservator cannot be appointed as your agent unless you are represented by a lawyer who signs a certificate stating that you have been advised of your rights. If this applies to you, you should talk with your lawyer about your rights, the applicable law, and the potential consequences involved.

On the other hand, you may include in your advance directive a nomination for the individual appointed as your conservator, if necessary. The court will consider your nomination in any protective proceeding. 

You can appoint a second and third person as your alternate agents. An alternate agent will step in if the person(s) you name as agent is/are unable, unwilling or unavailable to act for you.

Should I add personal instructions to my advance directive?

One of the strongest reasons for naming an agent is to have someone who can respond flexibly as your medical situation changes and deal with situations that you did not foresee. If you add instructions to this document it may help your agent carry out your wishes, but be careful that you do not unintentionally restrict your agent’s power to act in your best interest. In any event, be sure to talk with your agent about your future health care and describe what you consider to be an acceptable “quality of life.”

What if I change my mind?

Except for the appointment of your agent, you may revoke any portion or this entire advance directive at any time and in any way that communicates your intent to revoke. This could be by telling your agent or physician that you revoke, by signing a revocation, or simply by tearing up your advance directive.

In order to revoke your agent’s appointment, you must either tell your supervising health care provider of your intent to revoke or revoke your agent’s appointment in a signed writing.

If you execute a new advance directive, it will revoke the old advance directive to the extent of any conflict between the two documents.

Unless you specify otherwise in Part 2, if you designate your spouse as your agent, that designation will automatically be revoked by divorce or annulment of your marriage.

What other important facts should I know?

Your agent, if you appoint one, does not have authority to authorize convulsive treatment, psychosurgery, sterilization, or abortion, or to have you committed or placed in a mental health treatment facility.

CALIFORNIA ADVANCE HEALTH CARE DIRECTIVE – PAGE 1 OF 13

Explanation

You have the right to give instructions about your own health care. You also have the right to name someone else to make health care decisions for you. This form lets you do either or both of these things. It also lets you express your wishes regarding donation of organs and the designation of your primary physician. If you use this form, you may complete or modify all or any part of it. You are free to use a different form.

Part 1 of this form is a power of attorney for health care. Part 1 lets you name another individual as agent to make health care decisions for you if you become incapable of making your own decisions or if you want someone else to make those decisions for you now even though you are still capable.

You may name an alternate agent to act for you if your first choice is not willing, able, or reasonably available to make decisions for you. (Your agent may not be an operator or employee of a community care facility or a residential care facility where you are receiving care, or an employee of the health care institution where you are receiving care, unless your agent is related to you, is your registered domestic partner, or is a co-worker. Your supervising health care provider can never act as your agent.)

Unless the form you sign limits the authority of your agent, your agent may make all health care decisions for you. This form has a place for you to limit the authority of your agent. You need not limit the authority of your agent if you wish to rely on your agent for all health care decisions that may have to be made. If you choose not to limit the authority of your agent, your agent will have the right to:

(a) Consent or refuse consent to any care, treatment, service, or procedure to maintain, diagnose, or otherwise affect a physical or mental condition;
(b) Select or discharge health care providers and institutions;
(c) Approve or disapprove diagnostic tests, surgical procedures and programs of medication;
(d) Direct the provision, withholding, or withdrawal of artificial nutrition and hydration and all other forms of health care, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation; and
(e) Make anatomical gifts, authorize an autopsy, and direct the disposition of your remains.

CALIFORNIA ADVANCE HEALTH CARE DIRECTIVE – PAGE 2 OF 13

Explanation Continued

Part 2 of this form lets you give specific instructions about any aspect of your health care, whether or not you appoint an agent. Choices are provided for you to express your wishes regarding the provision, withholding, or withdrawal of treatment to keep you alive, as well as the provision of pain relief. Space is provided for you to add to the choices you have made or for you to write out any additional wishes. If you are satisfied to allow your agent to determine what is best for you in making end-of-life decisions, you need not fill out part 2 of this form.

Part 3 of this form lets you express an intention to donate your bodily organs and tissues following your death.

Part 4 of this form lets you designate a physician to have primary responsibility for your health care.

After completing this form, sign and date the form in Part 5. The form must be signed by two qualified witnesses or acknowledged before a notary public. Give a copy of the signed and completed form to your physician, to any other health care providers you may have, to any health care institution at which you are receiving care, and to any health care agents you have named. You should talk to the person you have named as agent and alternate agent(s) to make sure that he or she understands your wishes and is willing to take the responsibility.

You have the right to revoke this advance health care directive or replace this form at any time.

CALIFORNIA ADVANCE HEALTH CARE DIRECTIVE — PAGE 3 OF 13

PART 1: POWER OF ATTORNEY FOR HEALTH CARE

PRINT THE NAME, HOME ADDRESS AND HOME AND WORK TELEPHONE NUMBERS OF YOUR PRIMARY AGENT

OPTIONAL: If I revoke the authority of my agent and first alternate agent or if neither is willing, able, or reasonably available to make a health care decision for me, I designate as my second alternate agent:

CALIFORNIA ADVANCE HEALTH CARE DIRECTIVE — PAGE 4 OF 13

(2) AGENT’S AUTHORITY: My agent is authorized to make all health care decisions for me, including decisions to provide, withhold, or withdraw artificial nutrition and hydration, and all other forms of health care to keep me alive, except as I state here:

(4) AGENT’S OBLIGATION: My agent shall make health care decisions for me in accordance with this power of attorney for health care, any instructions I give in Part 2 of this form, and my other wishes to the extent known to my agent. To the extent my wishes are unknown, my agent shall make health care decisions for me in accordance with what my agent determines to be in my best interest. In determining my best interest, my agent shall consider my personal values to the extent known to my agent.

(5) AGENT’S POSTDEATH AUTHORITY: My agent is authorized to make anatomical gifts, authorize an autopsy, and direct disposition of my remains, except as I state here, in paragraph (2) above, or in Part 3 of this form:

(6) NOMINATION OF CONSERVATOR: If a conservator of my person needs to be appointed for me by a court, I nominate the agent designated in this form. If that agent is not willing, able, or reasonably available to act as conservator, I nominate the alternate agents whom I have named, in the order designated.

CALIFORNIA ADVANCE HEALTH CARE DIRECTIVE — PAGE 5 OF 13

PART 2: INSTRUCTIONS FOR HEALTH CARE

If you fill out this part of the form, you may strike any wording you do not want.

(7) END-OF-LIFE DECISIONS: I direct that my health care providers and others involved in my care provide, withhold, or withdraw treatment in accordance with the choice I have marked below: (Initial only one box)

I do not want my life to be prolonged if (1) I have an incurable and irreversible condition that will result in my death within a relatively short time, (2) I become unconscious and, to a reasonable degree of medical certainty, I will not regain consciousness, or (3) the likely risks and burdens of treatment would outweigh the expected benefits,

I want my life to be prolonged as long as possible within the limits of generally accepted health care standards.

(8) RELIEF FROM PAIN: Except as I state in the following space, I direct that treatment for alleviation of pain or discomfort should be provided at all times even if it hastens my death:

CALIFORNIA ADVANCE HEALTH CARE DIRECTIVE — PAGE 6 OF 13

(9) OTHER WISHES: (If you do not agree with any of the optional choices above and wish to write your own, or if you wish to add to the instructions you have given above, you may do so here.) I direct that:

CALIFORNIA ADVANCE HEALTH CARE DIRECTIVE — PAGE 7 OF 13

PART 3: DONATION OF ORGANS AT DEATH (OPTIONAL)

(10) Upon my death: (initial applicable box)

My gift is for the following purposes:
(strike any of the following you do not want)

CALIFORNIA ADVANCE HEALTH CARE DIRECTIVE — PAGE 8 OF 13

PART 4: PRIMARY PHYSICIAN

(OPTIONAL)

(11) I designate the following physician as my primary physician:

CALIFORNIA ADVANCE HEALTH CARE DIRECTIVE – PAGE 9 OF 13

PART 5: EXECUTION

This Health Care Directive will not be valid unless it is EITHER:

(A) Signed by two (2) qualified adult witnesses who are personally known to you or to whom you have proven your identity by convincing evidence and who are present when you sign or acknowledge your Your witnesses may not be

• your health care provider or an employee of your health care provider,
• the operator or an employee of a community care facility,
• the operator or an employee of a residential care facility for the elderly, or
• the person you have appointed as an agent, if you have appointed an agent

In addition, one of your witnesses must be unrelated to you by blood, marriage, or adoption and not entitled to any portion of your estate. (Use Alternative 1, below, if you decide to have your signature witnessed.)

OR 

(B) Witnessed by a (Use Alternative 2, below (page 12), if you decide to have your signature notarized.)

THERE ARE SPECIAL WITNESSING REQUIREMENTS IF YOU LIVE IN A SKILLED NURSING FACILITY

If you are a patient in a skilled nursing facility when you execute your advance directive, one of your witnesses must be a patient advocate or ombudsman.  This witness must sign the statement on page 13, even if you have had your advance directive notarized.

CALIFORNIA ADVANCE HEALTH CARE DIRECTIVE – PAGE 10 OF 13

OPTION 1: Sign before a Witness

CALIFORNIA ADVANCE HEALTH CARE DIRECTIVE – PAGE 12 OF 13

ALTERNATIVE NO. 2: NOTARY PUBLIC

Who proved to me on the basis of satisfactory evidence to be the person(s) is/are subscribed to the within instrument and acknowledged to me that he/she/they executed the same in his/her/their authorized capacity(ies), and that by his/her their signature(s) on the instrument the person(s), or the entity upon behalf of which the person(s) acted, executed the instrument.

I certify under PENALTY OF PERJURY under the laws of the state of California that the foregoing paragraph is true and correct.

WITNESS my hand and official seal.

CALIFORNIA ADVANCE HEALTH CARE DIRECTIVE – PAGE 13 OF 13

THIS SECTION MUST BE COMPLETED BY A PATIENT ADVOCATE OR OMBUDSMAN IF YOU ARE A RESIDENT IN A SKILLED NURSING FACILITY

You Have Filled Out Your Health Care Directive, Now What?

1. Your California Advance Health Care Directive is an important legal Keep the original signed document in a secure but accessible place. Do not put the original document in a safe deposit box or any other security box that would keep others from having access to it.

2. Give photocopies of the signed original to your agent and alternate agent, doctor(s), family, close friends, clergy, and anyone else who might become involved in your health If you enter a nursing home or hospital, have photocopies of your document placed in your medical records.

3. Be sure to talk to your agent(s), doctor(s), clergy, family, and friends about your wishes concerning medical treatment. Discuss your wishes with them often, particularly if your medical condition

4. California maintains an Advance Directive By filing your advance directive with the registry, your health care provider and loved ones may be able to find a copy of your directive in the event you are unable to provide one. You can read more about the registry, including instructions on how to file your advance directive, at http://www.sos.ca.gov/ahcdr/forms.htm.

5. You may also want to save a copy of your form in an online personal health records application, program, or service that allows you to share your medical documents with your physicians, family, and others who you want to take an active role in your advance care

6. If you want to make changes to your documents after they have been signed and witnessed, you must complete a new

7. Remember, you can always revoke your California

8. Be aware that your California document will not be effective in the event of a medical Ambulance and hospital emergency department personnel are required to provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) unless they are given a separate directive that states otherwise. These directives called “prehospital medical care directives” or “do not resuscitate orders” are designed for people whose poor health gives them little chance of benefiting from CPR. These directives instruct ambulance and hospital emergency personnel not to attempt CPR if your heart or breathing should stop.

Currently not all states have laws authorizing these orders. We suggest you speak to your physician if you are interested in obtaining one.