The form below is in wide use throughout California and gives a basic understanding of the purpose and use of the Advance Care Directive. After a brief introduction to the law, it provides specific guidance on filling in each section of the Advance Health Care Directive.

Should you elect to use this form, you should print out numerous copies and follow its instructions carefully and once executed as it provides, give executed copies to those nominated to make decisions as to your care and to your regular physician. Also, keep one in a safe location within the home.

Recent events have demonstrated that absent these advance directives it is quite possible for your family to disagree as to appropriate care for you with resultant destruction of family relationships and expensive legal contests. Above all, YOUR wishes will not necessarily be followed as people with their own personal agendas seek to impose their views on YOUR life.

There is no “right or wrong” as to your instructions in this document. This is one of the most personal questions a person can face. But what is clearly true is that you have an obligation not only to yourself but to those you love to give them as much guidance as possible as to the difficult decisions described in this form.

This form will have legal effect. It will compel the government and health professionals to follow your instructions should you fill it in properly. At least in California, you CANNOT provide for euthanasia. However, if you are only being kept alive on life support, you can instruct the care giver to remove such life support and the person you nominate in this form to act in your stead can compel the health worker to comply with your wishes.

Take your time to read the following carefully and, above all, remember that until you execute the document and deliver it to your physician and the nominated holder of the powers, you will not have the ability to control health decisions to be made for you should you become incompetent.

The reader should also review our articles on Wills and Trusts.

 

BASIC LAW AS TO HEALTH CARE DIRECTIVES

California law gives you the ability to insure that your health care wishes are known and considered if you become unable to make these decisions yourself.

The following are answers to commonly asked questions about Advance Directives. For more information on Advance Health Care Directives, see www.cmanet.org.

 

What is an Advance Health Care Directive?

An Advance Health Care Directive is the best way to make sure that your health care wishes are known and considered if for any reason you are unable to speak for yourself. Completing a form called an “Advance Health Care Directive” allows you, under California law, to do either or both of two things:

First, you may appoint another person to be your health care “agent”. This person (who may also be known as your “Attorney-in-fact”) will have legal authority to make decisions about your medical care if you become unable to make these decisions for yourself.

Second, you may write down your health care wishes in the Advance Health Care Directive form – for example, a desire not to receive treatment that only prolongs the dying process if your are terminally ill. Your doctor and your agent must follow your lawful decisions surrounding your health care.

 

Is an Advance Health Care Directive different from a “living will”?

 

The Advance Health Care Directive is now the legally recognized format for a living will in California. It replaced the Natural Death Act Declaration. The Advance Health Care Directive allows you to do more than the traditional living will, which only states your desire not to receive life-sustaining treatment if you are terminally ill or permanently unconscious. An Advance Health Care Directive allows you to state your wishes about refusing or accepting life-sustaining treatment in any situation.

Unlike a living will, an Advance Health Care Directive also can be used to state your desires about your health care in any situation in which you are unable to make your decisions, not just when you are in a coma or are terminally ill. In addition, an Advance Health Care Directive allows you to appoint someone you trust to speak for you when you are incapacitated.

You do not need a separate living will if you have already stated your wishes about life-sustaining treatment in an Advance Health Care Directive. The Advance Health Care Directive form in this kit includes an optional living will statement that you can select if it reflects your desires.

 

Is an Advance Health Care Directive different from a “Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care”?

 

The Advance Health Care Directive has replaced the Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care (or “DPAHC) as the legally recognized document for appointing a health care agent in California. The Advance Health Care Directive allows you to do more than a DPAHC. An Advance Health Care Directive permits you not only to appoint an agent, but to give instructions about your health care. You can now do either or both of these things.

 

What if I have already executed a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care or a Natural Death Act Declaration. Is it still valid? Do I have to complete a new Advance Health Care Directive?

 

All valid Durable Powers of Attorney for Health Care (DPAHC) and Natural Death Act Declarations remain valid. Thus, unless your existing DPAHC has expired you do not have to complete a new Advance Health Care Directive. A DPAHC executed before 1992 has expired and should be replaced.

Because the new Advance Health Care Directive gives you more flexibility to state your health care desires, you may wish to complete the new form even if you completed a DPAHC or Natural Death Act Declaration. At a minimum, you should review your existing DPAHC or Natural Death Act Declaration to make sure it has not expired and that it still accurately reflects your wishes.

 

Who can complete an Advance Health Care Directive?

 

Any California resident who is at least eighteen (18) years old (or is an emancipated minor), of sound mind, and acting of his or her own free will can complete a valid Advance Health Care Directive.

 

Do I need a lawyer to complete an Advance Health Care Directive?

 

No. You do not need a lawyer to assist you in completing an Advance Health Care Directive form (such as the form supplied in this kit). The only exception applies to individuals who have been involuntarily committed to a mental health facility who wish to appoint their conservator as their agent.

 

Who may I appoint as my health care agent?

 

You can appoint almost any adult to be your agent. You can choose a member of your family, such as your spouse or an adult child, a friend, or someone else you trust. You can also appoint one or more “alternate agents” in case the person you select as your health care agent is unavailable or unwilling to make a decision. (If you appoint your spouse and later get divorced, the Advance Health Care Directive remains valid, but your first alternate agent will become your agent.)

It is important that you talk to the people you plan to appoint to make sure they understand your wishes and agree to accept this responsibility. Your health care agent will be immune from liability so long as he or she acts in good faith.

The law prohibits you from choosing certain people to act as your agent(s). You may not choose your doctor, or a person who operates a community care facility (sometimes called a “board and care home”) or a residential care facility in which you receive care, unless the person is related to you by blood, marriage, or adoption, is a co-worker.

 

Can I appoint more than one person to share the responsibility of being my health care agent?

 

The California Medical Association (CMA) recommends that you name only one person as your health care agent. If two or more people are given equal authority and they disagree about a health care decision, one of the important purposes of the Advance Health Care Directive – to identify clearly who has authority to speak for you – will be defeated. If you are afraid of offending people close to you by choosing one over another to be your agent, ask them to decide among themselves who will be the agent, and list the others as alternate agents.

 

I want to provide more specific health care instructions than those included on this form. How do I do that?

 

You may write detailed instructions for your health care agent and physician(s). To do so, simply attach one or more sheets of paper to the form, write your instructions, write the number of pages you are attaching in the space provided at the end of Section 3, and sign and date the attachments at the same time you have the form witnessed or notarized. For examples of more specific instructions for organ and tissue donation, go to the California Medical Association’s website at www.cmanet.org.

 

How much authority will my health care agent have?

 

If you become unable to make your own health care decisions, your agent will have legal authority to speak for you in health care matters. Physicians and other health care professionals will look to your agent for decisions rather than to your next of kin or any other person. Your agent will be able to accept or refuse medical treatment, have access to your medical records, and make decisions about donating your organs, authorizing an autopsy, and disposing of your body should you die.

If you do not want your agent to have certain of these powers or to make certain decisions, you can write a statement in the Advance Health Care Directive form limiting your agent’s authority. In addition, the law says that your agent cannot authorize convulsive treatment (i.e., electroconvulsive therapy or ECT), psychosurgery, sterilization, abortion, or placement in a mental health treatment facility.

The person you appoint as your agent has no authority to make decisions for you until you are unable to make those decisions for yourself, unless you choose to allow your agent to make those decisions for you immediately.

When you become incapacitated, your agent must make decisions that are consistent with any instructions you have written in the Advance Health Care Directive form or made known in other ways such as by telling family members, friends or your doctor. If you have not made your wishes known, your agent must decide what is in your best interests, considering your personal values to the extent they are known.

 

What should I tell my family, my health care agent, and my doctors?

 

One of the most important parts of completing an Advance Health Care Directive is the conversations you have about it with your loved ones and your physicians. You should talk about: your personal values and what makes living meaningful for you; your current medical condition and decisions you may foresee in the future; specific concerns or wishes you may have regarding life support or aggressive interventions, hospice or long-term care; what concerns you most about death and dying; and how you would want to spend the last month of your life. It is also recommended, although not always possible, that such a discussion include both your physician(s), and your health care agent (and alternate agent(s)).

Tell your loved ones that you have completed an Advance Health Care Directive and what you have said in it, especially if you have selected a health care agent. Your Advance Health Care Directive will likely go into effect during a period of crisis for them. It can help ease their burden to know that you have made some of these decisions in advance. In addition, they should know in advance who is to speak for you in making medical decisions and where copies of your Advance Health Care Directive can be found. Remind them that their role is to make sure that your wishes are communicated and that those wishes guide their decision making.

 

Will my health care agent be responsible for my medical bills?

 

No, not unless that person would otherwise be responsible for your debts. The Advance Health Care Directive deals only with medical decision making and has no effect on financial responsibility for your health care. Please note, however, that unless you have made other arrangements, your agent may be responsible for costs related to the disposition of your body after you die. Consult an attorney regarding how your financial affairs should best be handled.

 

For how long is an Advance Health Care Directive valid?

 

An Advance Health Care Directive is valid forever, unless you revoke it or state in the form a specific date on which you want it to expire.

 

What should I do with the Advance Health Care Directive form after I fill it out?

 

Make sure the form has been properly signed, dated, and either notarized or witnessed by two qualified individuals (the form includes instructions about who can and cannot be a witness). Keep the original in a safe place where your loved ones can find it quickly. Give copies of the completed form to the people you have appointed as your agent and alternate agent(s), to your doctor(s) and health plan, and to family members or anyone else who is likely to be called if there is a medical emergency. You should tell these people to present a copy of the form at the request of your health care providers or emergency medical personnel.

Take a copy of the form with you if you are going to be admitted to a hospital, nursing home or other health care facility. Copies of the completed form can be relied upon by your agent and doctors as though they were the original.

In addition, you should fill out the contact list provided in this kit. This will enable you to communicate any changes you make to your directive. Make sure you include the name, address, and telephone and fax numbers for each person or facility to whom you have given a copy of your Advance Health Care Directive form.

 

What if I change my mind after completing an Advance Health Care Directive?

 

You can revoke or change an Advance Health Care Directive at any time. To revoke the entire form, including the appointment of your agent, you must inform your treating health care provider personally or in writing. Completing a new CMA Advance Health Care Directive will revoke all previous directives. In addition, if you revoke or change your directive, you should notify every person or facility that has a copy of your prior directive and provide them with a new one.

You complete a new form if you want to name a different person as your agent or make other changes. However, if you need only to update the address or telephone numbers of your agent or alternate agent(s), you may write in the new information and initial and date the change. Of course, you should make copies or otherwise ensure that those who need this need contact information will have it.

You should make a list of the people and institutions to whom you give a copy of the form so you will know whom to contact if you revoke the Advance Health Care Directive, update contact information, or make a new one. The form provides a place for this list.

 

How will emergency personnel (such as paramedics) find my Advance Health Care Directive form in the event of an emergency?

 

In this kit you will find two Advance Health Care Directive Wallet Identification cards. You should complete both cards. Keep one for yourself and give one to your spouse or someone who is likely to be contacted should you be in an emergency situation. The cards should be kept where emergency health care personnel will find them, such as in a wallet.

I have reached a point in my life that I don’t want the paramedics to give me CPR. Will this Advance Health Care Directive keep this from happening?

If the paramedics see your Advance Health Care Directive before they start resuscitative efforts, and the Advance Health Care Directive clearly instructs them not to start these efforts, they probably will not start resuscitation. The best approach is to complete the “Prehospital Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) form and obtain a “Do Not Resuscitate – EMS” medallion approved by California’s Emergency Medical Services Authority. You may order copies of the DNR form (which includes instructions on ordering the medallion) from CMA publications. Please see the form in this kit for ordering information.

 

Is my Advance Health Care Directive valid in other states?

 

An Advance Health Care Directive that meets the requirements of California law may or may not be honored in other states, but most states will recognize an Advance Health Care Directive that is executed legally in another state. If you spend a lot of time in another state, you may want to consult a doctor, lawyer, or the medical society in that state to find out about the laws there.

 

Can anyone force me to sign an Advance Health Care Directive?

 

No. The law specifically says that no one can require you to complete an Advance Health Care Directive before admitting you to a hospital or other health care facility, and no one can deny you health insurance because you choose not to complete an Advance Health Care Directive.

 

Can I get more information about the Advance Health Care Directive?

 

Yes. Your doctor probably can provide you with more information. However, you should talk to a lawyer if you want legal advice.

For more information about end-of-life decisions, go to http://coalitionccc.org/, the website for the California Coalition for Compassionate Care.

The booklet “Finding Your Way” is a useful guide to thinking about and discussing these issues. To order a copy, send $1.50 check (payable to :SHD”) to Sacramento Healthcare Decisions, 10540 White Rock Rd., Suite 135, Rancho Cordova, CA 95670. For more information, email: shd@quicknet.com

 

C M A

California Medical Association

Physicians dedicated to the health of Californians

 

Advance Health Care Directive

Including Power of Attorney for Health Care Decisions

California Probate Code Sections 4600-4805

 

MY HEALTH CARE WISHES

This form lets you give instructions about your future health care. It also lets you name someone to make decisions for you if you can’t make your own decisions. It’s best if you fill out the whole form, but, as long as it is signed, dated and witnessed or notarized properly, you may choose only to appoint an agent (section 1) or provide health care instructions (section 5). If there is anything in this form you do not understand, read the booklet that comes with this form and the initialized instructions on the form, or ask your physician, other health care professional or an attorney for help. You may also review additional information and instructions concerning advance health care directives on the California Medical Association’s website, www.cmanet.org. Internet access is available at your local public library.

 

1. APPOINTMENT OF HEALTH CARE AGENT

____ Option A. I, _______________________________, wish to appoint a health care agent. (Print your full name and date of birth)

 

 

Fill in below the name and contact information of the person(s) (your agent and alternate agent(s) you wish to make health care decisions for you if you are unable to make them for yourself. You may appoint alternate agents in case your first appointed agent is not willing, able or reasonably available to make these decisions when asked to do so.

 

Your agent may not be:

A. Your primary treating health care provider.

B. An operator of a community care or residential care facility where you receive care.

C. An employee of the health care institution or community or residential care facility where you receive care, unless your agent is related to you or is one of your co-workers.

 

If you choose to name an agent, you should discuss your wishes with that person and give that person a copy of this form. You should make sure that this person understands your wishes and this responsibility and is willing to accept it.

OR

 

_____ Option B. I, ____________________________________, do not wish to appoint an agent at this time. (Print your full name and date of birth)

 

 

 

 

If you choose not to name an agent, initial the box above, print your name on the line in the Option B above, draw a line through the next page (page 2), then continue to Section 3.

 

 

 

 

I hereby appoint as my agent to make health care decisions for me:

 

 

Name ________________________________________________

(agent’s name)

 

Address______________________________________________________________________________

(street address, city, state, zip code)

 

Home Phone (___)___________________Work Phone (___)_____________________

 

Cell Phone/Pager (___)____________________Fax (___)________________________

 

Email: ___________________________________________I understand this appointment will continue unless I revoke it as explained in Section 3. If I revoke my agent’s authority or if my agent is not reasonably available, able or willing to make health care decisions for me, I appoint the following person(s) to do so, listed in the order they should be asked.

 

OPTIONAL: 1st alternate agent: Name_______________________

e-mail_______________________

 

 

Address___________________________________________

Home phone (___)_____________________________________________

(street address, city, state, zip code)

 

 

Work phone (___)_______________ Cell/Pager (___)___________ Fax (___)___________________

 

 

OPTIONAL: 2nd alternate agent: Name_______________________

e-mail______________________

 

 

Address___________________________________________ Home phone (___)_________________

(street address, city, state, zip code)

 

 

Work phone (___)_______________ Cell/Pager (__)________________Fax (___)________________

 

 

2. AUTHORITY OF AGENT

Your agent must make health care decisions that are consistent with the instructions in this document and your known desires. It is important that you discuss your health care desires with the person(s) you appoint as your health care agent, and with your doctor(s). If your wishes are not known, your agent must make health care decisions that your agent believes to be in your best interest, considering your personal values to the extent they are known.

If my primary physician finds that I cannot make my own health care decisions, I grant my agent full power and authority to make those decisions for me, subject to any health care instructions set forth below. My agent will have the right to:

 

A. Consent, refuse consent, or withdraw consent to any medical care of services, such as tests, drugs, surgery, or consultations for any physical or mental condition. This includes the provision, withholding or with drawl of artificial; nutrition and dehydration (feeding by tube or vein) and all other forms of health care, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

B. Choose or reject my physician, other health care professionals or health care facilities.

C. Receive and consent to the release of medical information.

D. Donate organs or tissue, authorize an autopsy and dispose of my body, unless I have said something different in a contract with a funeral home, in my will, or by some other written method.

 

I understand that, by law, my agent may not consent to committing me to or placing me in a mental health treatment facility, or to convulsive treatment, psychosurgery, sterilization or abortion.

OPTIONAL: I want my agent’s authority to make health care decisions for me to start now, even though I am still able to make them for myself. I understand and authorize this statement as proved by my signature___________________________________________________

 

3. PRIOR DIRECTIVES REVOKED

I revoke any prior Power of Attorney for Health Care or Natural Death Act Declaration.

You may revoke any part of or this entire Advance Health Care Directive at any time. To revoke the appointment of an agent, you must inform your treating health care provider personally or in writing. Completing a new California Medical Association Advance Health Care Directive will revoke all previous directives. If you revoke a prior directive, notify every person, physician, hospital, clinic, or care facility that has a copy of your prior directive and give them a copy of your new directive, if you execute one.

 

4. COPIES

My agent and others may use copies of this document as through they were originals.

Your agent may need this document immediately in case of an emergency. You should keep the completed original and give copies of the completed original to (1) your agent and alternate agents, (2) your physician(s), (3) members of your family and others who might be called in the event of a medical emergency, and (4) any hospital or other health facility where you receive treatment. Instruct your agent(s), family, and friends to provide a copy of your directive to your physician(s) or emergency medical personnel on request.

 

5. HEALTH CARE INSTRUCTIONS

You may, but are not required to, state your desires about the goals and types of medical care you do or do not want, including your desires concerning life support if you are seriously ill. If your wishes are not known, your agent must make health care decisions for you that your agent believes to be in your best interest, considering your personal values. If you do not wish to provide specific, written health care instructions, draw a line through this Section.

The following are statements about life-support treatments. Life-support or life-sustaining treatments are any medical procedures, devices or medications used to keep you alive. Life-support treatments may include: medical devices put in to help you breathe; food and fluid supplied artificially by medical device (feeding tube); cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR); major surgery; blood transfusions; kidney dialysis; and antibiotics.

Sign either of the following general statements about life-support treatments if one accurately reflects your desires. If you wish to modify or add to either statement or to write your own statement instead, you may do so in the space provided or on a separate sheet(s) of paper which you must date and sign and attach to this form.

OPTIONAL: The statement I have signed below is to apply if I am suffering from a terminal condition from which death is expected in a matter of months, or if I am suffering from an irreversible condition that renders me unable to make decisions for myself, and life-support treatments are needed to keep me alive.

 

A. I request that all treatments other than those needed to keep me comfortable be discontinued or withheld and my physician(s) allows me to die as gently as possible. I understand and authorize this statement as proved by my

 

signature __________________________________________________

 

OR

 

B. I want my life to be prolonged as long as possible within limits of generally accepted health care standards. I understand and authorize this statement as proved by my

 

 

signature_______________________________________________

 

OPTIONAL: Other or additional statements of medical treatment desires and limitations:_____________________________________ _____________________________________________________________

For additional Advance Health Care Directive options, go to the California Medical Association’s website at www.cmanet.org.

 

OPTIONAL: I have added _____ page(s) of specific health care instructions to this directive, each of which is signed and dated on the same day I signed this directive.

 

6. ORGAN AND TISSUE DONATION

I wish to be an organ donor. I understand and authorize this statement as proved by my:

 

 

Signature_____________________________________________

 

I have indicated this on ____ my drivers license and/or ____ optional section below.

 

If you do not wish to be an organ donor, please check this box: ____

 

Organ and tissue donation represent one of the greatest gifts that an individual can make. A clear statement of your intent, such as the information that follows, will help to make sure your intentions regarding organ and tissue donations are honored. Be sure to communicate these intensions to your family members, loved ones, and physician(s).

For more information on organ and tissue donation in Northern California, contact the California Transplant Donor Network at www.ctdn.org or telephone 888-570-9400; in Central California, contact One Legacy, Los Angeles, CA, at www.onelegacy.com or telephone (213) 413-6219; in Eastern California, contact Sierra Donor Services, Sacramento, CA at http://sierradonor.org or telephone 877-401-2546 ; in Southern California, contact Lifeshare, Southern California, San Diego, CA, at 222.lifeshareing.org or telephone (619) 521-1983.

OPTIONAL: Other or additional statements of organ and tissue donation desires and limitations.

 

I, __________________________________________, make this anatomical gift to take effect upon my death:

 

I give

 

___ my body

 

___ any needed organ (i.e., kidneys, liver, heart, lungs, pancreas, spleen), tissues (corneas, heart valves, skin, bone) or parts

 

___ only the following organs, tissues, or parts: _____________________________________________________

 

_____________________________________________________

 

to

___ the regional organ procurement agency or eye or tissue bank for transplantation or other therapy

 

___ the following university, hospital, storage bank, or other institution:

 

_____________________________________________________

 

 

for

 

___ transplantation or treatment of any person who can medically benefit

 

___ medical education

 

___ medical research

 

___ any purpose authorized by law

 

I understand and authorize this statement as proved by my

 

 

signature_____________________________________________

 

 

7. DATE AND SIGNATURE OF PRINCIPAL

 

I sign my name to and acknowledge this Advance Heath Care Directive:

 

 

(signature of principal) (date of birth) (date of signing)

 

 

8. STATEMENT OF WITNESS

This Advance Health Care Directive will not be valid unless it is either (1) signed by two qualified adult witnesses who are present when you sign or acknowledge your signature or (2) acknowledged before a notary public in California. If you use witnesses rather than a notary public, the law prohibits using the following as witnesses: (1) the persons you have appointed as your agent or alternate agent(s); (2) your health care provider or an employee of your health care provider; or (3) an operator or employee of an operator of a community care facility or residential care facility for the elderly. Additionally, at least one of the witnesses cannot be related to you by blood, marriage or adoption, or be named in your will, or by operation of law be entitled to any portion of your estate upon your death.

 

Special Rules for Skilled Nursing Facility Residents

If you are a patient in a skilled nursing facility, you must have a patient advocate or ombudsman sign as a witness and sign the Statement of Patient Advocate or Ombudsman. (See Following Pages) You must also have a second qualified witness sign below or have this document acknowledged before a notary public.

 

FOR SKILLED NURSING FACILITIES: STATEMENT OF PATIENT ADVOCATE OR OMBUDSMAN

If you are a patient in a skilled nursing facility, a patient advocate or ombudsman must sign the Statement of Witnesses (See Following Pages), and must also sign the following declaration.

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

 

Name/Title Printed______________________Signature_______________________

 

 

Date_______________Address_________________________________

 

 

STATEMENT OF WITNESSES (continued)

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 (*see next page), (2) that the individual signed or acknowledged this Advance Health Care 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 Health Care Directive, and (5) I am not the individual’s health care provider nor an employee of that health care provider, nor an operator or employee of an operator of a community care facility or a residential care facility for the elderly.

 

 

First Witness:________________________________________________

 

___________________________________________________________

(date) (name printed) (signature)

 

 

Residence Address:____________________________________________________

 

 

Second Witness:____________________________________________

 

______________________________ ____________________________

(date) (name printed) (signature)

 

 

Residence Address:____________________________________________________

 

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______________________________Date________________

 

 

 

9. CERTIFICATE OF ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF NOTARY PUBLIC

Acknowledgement before a notary public is not required if two witnesses have signed on the previous page. If you are a patient in a skilled nursing facility, you must have a patient advocate or ombudsman sign the Statement of Witness and the Statement of Patient Advocate or Ombudsman above, even if you also have this form notarized.

 

State of California

 

County of__________________________

 

On this______________, before me,

 

___________________________________________,

(date) (name and title of officer)

 

Personally appeared____________________________________________,

(name(s) of signer(s)

 

Personally known to me (or proved to me on the basis of satisfactory evidence) to be the person(s) who 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.

 

WITNESS my hand and official seal.

 

 

________________________________________

(signature of notary public) Notary Seal

 

 

*Evidence of Identity: The following forms of identification are satisfactory evidence of identity: a California driver’s license or identification card or U.S. passport that is current or has been issued within five years, or any of the following if the document is current or has been issued within 5 years, contains a photograph and description of the person named on it, is signed by the person, and bears a serial or other identifying number: a foreign passport that has been stamped by the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service; a drivers license issued by another state or by an authorized Canadian or Mexican agency; an identification card issued by another state or by any branch of the U.S. armed forces, or for an inmate in custody, an inmate identification card issued by the Department of Corrections. If the principal is a patient in a skilled nursing facility, a patient advocate or ombudsman may rely on the representations of family members or the administrator or staff of the facility as convincing evidence of identity if the patient advocate or ombudsman believes that the representations provide a reasonable basis for determining the identity of the principal.

 

LIST OF PEOPLE AND PLACES THAT HAVE A COPY OF MY ADVANCE DIRECTIVE

After you have completed your Advance Health Care Directive form, you should give copies of the form to the people you have appointed as your agent and alternate agents, to your doctor(s) and health plan, and to family members or anyone else who is likely to be called if there is a medical emergency. You should also take a copy with you if you are going to be admitted to a hospital, nursing home or other health facility.

Use the space below to keep a list of people and institutions who have copies of your forms so that you can contact them if you decide to revoke, update, or revise it. Be sure to send everyone on the list the new information.

 

Date of my Advance Directive: ____________________.

(date)

 

Name: __________________________

Address: ________________________

________________________________

Phone: (___) _____________________

Fax: (___) _______________________

 

Name: ___________________________

Address: _________________________

_________________________________

Phone: (___) ______________________

Fax: (___) ________________________

 

Name: ___________________________

Address: _________________________

_________________________________

Phone: (___) ______________________

Fax: (___) ________________________

 

Name: ___________________________

Address: _________________________

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