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The California Advanced Health Care Directive is an important legal document that allows individuals to express their healthcare preferences in advance, ensuring that their wishes are honored in the event they become unable to communicate them. This form encompasses two primary components: the designation of a healthcare agent and the specification of healthcare preferences. By appointing a trusted individual as a healthcare agent, a person can ensure that their medical decisions are made by someone who understands their values and desires. Additionally, the directive provides an opportunity to outline specific instructions regarding medical treatment, including preferences for life-sustaining measures, pain management, and organ donation. This comprehensive approach allows individuals to maintain control over their healthcare choices, even when they cannot voice them, while also alleviating the burden on family members and healthcare providers during challenging times.

Documents used along the form

The California Advanced Health Care Directive is a vital document that allows individuals to outline their medical preferences and appoint someone to make healthcare decisions on their behalf if they become unable to do so. Several other forms and documents complement this directive, enhancing its effectiveness and ensuring comprehensive planning for healthcare needs. Below are six commonly used documents that are often associated with the California Advanced Health Care Directive.

  • Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare: This document designates an individual to make medical decisions on behalf of the person if they are incapacitated. It can be used independently or in conjunction with the Advanced Health Care Directive.
  • Living Will: A living will specifies the types of medical treatments and life-sustaining measures a person wishes to receive or avoid in the event of a terminal illness or irreversible condition.
  • Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Order: This order instructs healthcare providers not to perform CPR if a person's heart stops beating or if they stop breathing. It is particularly important for individuals with specific end-of-life wishes.
  • Boat Bill of Sale: To facilitate the transfer of ownership for a boat in California, it’s imperative to complete the California PDF Forms that include all relevant information about the parties involved and the boat itself.
  • Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST): This form translates a person's healthcare wishes into actionable medical orders. It is intended for individuals with serious illnesses or those who are near the end of life.
  • Healthcare Proxy: Similar to a durable power of attorney, a healthcare proxy allows a person to appoint someone to make healthcare decisions. This document can be crucial when immediate decisions are necessary.
  • Organ Donation Form: This form indicates an individual's wishes regarding organ and tissue donation after death. It provides clarity and ensures that the person's intentions are honored.

Each of these documents plays a significant role in ensuring that healthcare preferences are respected and that individuals receive the care they desire. By preparing these forms, individuals can relieve their loved ones of the burden of making difficult decisions during challenging times.

California Advanced Health Care Directive Example

ADVANCE HEALTH CARE DIRECTIVE FORM

 

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Probate Code - PROB

DIVISION 4.7. HEALTH CARE DECISIONS [4600 - 4806] ( Division 4.7 added by Stats. 1999, Ch. 658, Sec. 39. ) PART 2. UNIFORM HEALTH CARE DECISIONS ACT [4670 - 4743] ( Part 2 added by Stats. 1999, Ch. 658, Sec. 39. )

CHAPTER 2. Advance Health Care Directive Forms [4700 - 4701] ( Chapter 2 added by Stats. 1999, Ch. 658, Sec. 39. )

4701. The statutory advance health care directive form is as follows:

ADVANCE HEALTH CARE DIRECTIVE

(California Probate Code Section 4701)

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 also 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 your supervising health care provider or employee of the health care institution where you are receiving care, unless your agent is related to you or is a coworker.)

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.

(e)Donate your organs, tissues, and parts, authorize an autopsy, and direct disposition of remains.

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 also 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, tissues, and parts 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 at the end. 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 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.

ADVANCE HEALTH CARE DIRECTIVE FORM

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PART 1

POWER OF ATTORNEY FOR HEALTH CARE

(1.1) DESIGNATION OF AGENT: I designate the following individual as my agent to make health care decisions for me:

(name of individual you choose as agent)

(address)

(city)

(state)

(ZIP Code)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(home phone)

(work phone)

 

 

OPTIONAL: If I revoke my agent's authority or if my agent is not willing, able, or reasonably available to make a health care decision for me, I designate as my first alternate agent:

(name of individual you choose as first alternate agent)

(address)

(city)

(state)

(ZIP Code)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(home phone)

(work phone)

 

 

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:

(name of individual you choose as second alternate agent)

(address)

(city)

(state)

(ZIP Code)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(home phone)

(work phone)

 

 

(1.2) 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:

(Add additional sheets if needed.)

(1.3) WHEN AGENT'S AUTHORITY BECOMES EFFECTIVE: My agent's authority becomes effective when my primary physician determines that I am unable to make my own health care decisions unless I mark the following box.

If I mark this box , my agent's authority to make health care decisions for me takes effect immediately.

ADVANCE HEALTH CARE DIRECTIVE FORM

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(1.4.) 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.

(1.5) AGENT'S POSTDEATH AUTHORITY: My agent is authorized to donate my organs, tissues, and parts, authorize an autopsy, and direct disposition of my remains, except as I state here or in Part 3 of this form:

:

(Add additional sheets if needed.)

(1.6) 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 wiling, able, or reasonably available to act as conservator, I nominate the alternate agents whom I have named, in the order designated.

PART 2

INSTRUCTIONS FOR HEALTH CARE

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

(2.1) 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:

(a) Choice Not to Prolong Life

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, OR

(b) Choice to Prolong Life

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

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

(Add additional sheets if needed.)

(2.3) 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:

(Add additional sheets if needed.)

 

ADVANCE HEALTH CARE DIRECTIVE FORM

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PART 3

 

 

DONATION OF ORGANS, TISSUES, AND PARTS AT DEATH

 

 

(OPTIONAL)

 

(3.1)

Upon my death, I give my organs, tissues, and parts (mark box to indicate yes).

 

By checking the box above, and notwithstanding my choice in Part 2 of this form, I authorize my agent to consent to any temporary medical procedure necessary solely to evaluate and/or maintain my organs, tissues, and/or parts for purposes of donation.

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

(a)Transplant

(b)Therapy

(c)Research

(d)Education

If you want to restrict your donation of an organ, tissue, or part in some way, please state your restriction on the following lines:

If I leave this part blank, it is not a refusal to make a donation. My state-authorized donor registration should be followed, or, if none, my agent may make a donation upon my death. If no agent is named above, I acknowledge that California law permits an authorized individual to make such a decision on my behalf. (To state any limitation, preference, or instruction regarding donation, please use the lines above or in Section 1.5 of this form).

PART 4

PRIMARY PHYSICIAN

(OPTIONAL)

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

(name of physician)

(address)

(city)

(state)

(ZIP Code)

(phone)

OPTIONAL: If the physician I have designated above is not willing, able, or reasonably available to act as my primary physician, I designate the following physician as my primary physician:

(name of physician)

(address)

(city)

(state)

(ZIP Code)

(phone)

ADVANCE HEALTH CARE DIRECTIVE FORM

PART 5

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(5.1) EFFECT OF COPY: A copy of this form has the same effect as the original.

(5.2) SIGNATURE: Sign and date the form here:

(date)

(sign your name)

(address)

(print your name)

(city) (state)

(5.3) STATEMENT OF WITNESSES: I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of California (1) that the individual who signed or acknowledged this advance health care directive is personally known to me, or that the individual's identity was proven to me by convincing evidence (2) that the individual signed or acknowledged this advance directive in my presence, (3) that the individual appears to be of sound mind and under no duress, fraud, or undue influence, (4) that I am not a person appointed as agent by this advance directive, and (5) that I am not the individual's health care provider, an employee of the individual's health care provider, the operator of a community care facility, an employee of an operator of a community care facility, the operator of a residential care facility for the elderly, nor an employee of an operator of a residential care facility for the elderly.

First witness

Second witness

(print name)

(address)

(city)(state)

(print name)

(address)

(city)(state)

(signature of witness)

(signature of witness)

(date)

(date)

(5.4) ADDITIONAL STATEMENT OF WITNESSES: At least one of the above witnesses must also sign the following declaration:

I further declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of California that I am not related to the individual executing this advance health care directive by blood, marriage, or adoption, and to the best of my knowledge, I am not entitled to any part of the individual's estate upon his or her death under a will now existing or by operation of law.

(signature of witness)

(signature of witness)

ADVANCE HEALTH CARE DIRECTIVE FORM

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PART 6

SPECIAL WITNESS REQUIREMENT

(6.1) The following statement is required only if you are a patient in a skilled nursing facility--a health care facility that provides the following basic services: skilled nursing care and supportive care to patients whose primary need is for availability of skilled nursing care on an extended basis. The patient advocate or ombudsman must sign the following statement:

STATEMENT OF PATIENT ADVOCATE OR OMBUDSMAN

I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of California that I am a patient advocate or ombudsman as designated by the State Department of Aging and that I am serving as a witness as required by Section 4675 of the Probate Code.

(date)

(sign your name)

(address)

(print your name)

(city) (state)

 

(Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 287, Sec. 1. (AB 3211) Effective January 1, 2019.)

ADVANCE HEALTH CARE DIRECTIVE FORM

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ACKNOWLEDGMENT

A notary public or other officer completing this certificate verifies only the identity of the individual who signed the document to which this certificate is attached, and not the truthfulness, accuracy, or validity of that document.

State of California,

County of

On

before me,

(insert name and title of officer)

personally appeared

who proved to me on the basis of satisfactory evidence to be the person(s) whose name(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.

Signature

 

(SEAL)

 

 

 

FAQ

What is a California Advanced Health Care Directive?

The California Advanced Health Care Directive is a legal document that allows individuals to outline their preferences for medical care in the event they become unable to communicate their wishes. This directive combines both a power of attorney for health care and a living will, enabling you to appoint someone to make health care decisions on your behalf and specify your treatment preferences.

Who should consider creating an Advanced Health Care Directive?

Anyone over the age of 18 should consider creating an Advanced Health Care Directive. Life is unpredictable, and having a plan in place can ensure that your health care preferences are honored, even if you cannot express them. It is especially important for individuals with chronic illnesses, those undergoing major surgeries, or anyone concerned about end-of-life care.

How do I complete the California Advanced Health Care Directive form?

To complete the form, follow these steps:

  1. Download the form from a reliable source, such as the California Department of Public Health website.
  2. Fill in your personal information, including your name, address, and phone number.
  3. Designate a health care agent, someone you trust to make decisions on your behalf.
  4. Clearly outline your wishes regarding medical treatments, including life-sustaining measures.
  5. Sign and date the document in the presence of a notary public or two witnesses, as required by California law.

Can I change or revoke my Advanced Health Care Directive?

Yes, you can change or revoke your Advanced Health Care Directive at any time. To make changes, simply create a new directive or write a statement revoking the previous one. Ensure that you inform your health care agent and any medical providers of the changes to avoid confusion regarding your wishes.

What happens if I do not have an Advanced Health Care Directive?

If you do not have an Advanced Health Care Directive, medical decisions will be made by your family members or legal representatives, which may lead to disagreements or outcomes that do not reflect your wishes. Without a directive, there may be delays in treatment or care, as medical professionals will need to consult with your family about your preferences.

Is my Advanced Health Care Directive valid in other states?

While the California Advanced Health Care Directive is primarily valid in California, many states recognize out-of-state directives. However, it is advisable to check the laws of the state where you reside or may be receiving care. If you travel frequently or live in multiple states, consider creating a directive that complies with the laws of each state.

Do I need a lawyer to create an Advanced Health Care Directive?

No, you do not need a lawyer to create an Advanced Health Care Directive in California. The form is designed to be user-friendly, allowing individuals to complete it on their own. However, consulting with a lawyer may provide additional peace of mind and ensure that your document meets all legal requirements.

How can I ensure my wishes are honored?

To ensure your wishes are honored, take the following steps:

  • Discuss your preferences with your health care agent and family members.
  • Provide copies of your Advanced Health Care Directive to your health care agent, family, and medical providers.
  • Keep the original document in a safe but accessible location.

By taking these steps, you can help ensure that your health care preferences are understood and respected when the time comes.

Key takeaways

When considering the California Advanced Health Care Directive form, there are several important points to keep in mind. This document serves as a crucial tool in ensuring your healthcare wishes are respected. Here are some key takeaways:

  • Understand the Purpose: The directive allows you to specify your healthcare preferences in case you become unable to communicate them. It includes decisions about medical treatment, end-of-life care, and appointing someone to make decisions on your behalf.
  • Choose an Agent Wisely: Selecting a trusted individual as your healthcare agent is essential. This person will be responsible for making medical decisions according to your wishes, so choose someone who understands your values and preferences.
  • Discuss Your Wishes: Have open conversations with your chosen agent and family members about your healthcare preferences. Clear communication can help avoid confusion and ensure that your wishes are honored.
  • Review and Update Regularly: Life circumstances change, and so might your healthcare preferences. Regularly review your directive to ensure it accurately reflects your current wishes and update it as needed.

Form Characteristics

Fact Name Description
Purpose The California Advanced Health Care Directive allows individuals to outline their healthcare preferences and appoint an agent to make medical decisions on their behalf if they become unable to do so.
Governing Law This directive is governed by California Probate Code Sections 4600-4806.
Two Parts The form consists of two main parts: the appointment of an agent and the health care instructions.
Agent Appointment Individuals can appoint one or more agents to make healthcare decisions, ensuring their wishes are respected.
Health Care Instructions Specific instructions can be included regarding medical treatments, life support, and end-of-life care preferences.
Signature Requirement The directive must be signed by the individual and witnessed by two people or notarized to be legally valid.
Revocation Individuals can revoke their directive at any time, provided they communicate their decision clearly.
Accessibility The form is available online and can be completed without legal assistance, although consultation is recommended.
Durable Power of Attorney The directive includes a durable power of attorney for health care, which remains effective even if the individual becomes incapacitated.
Importance of Communication Discussing the contents of the directive with family and healthcare providers is crucial to ensure understanding and adherence to the individual's wishes.