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The California Advanced Health Care Directive form plays a crucial role in ensuring that individuals can express their healthcare preferences in a legally binding manner. This document allows a person to designate an agent, someone they trust, to make medical decisions on their behalf in the event they become unable to communicate their wishes due to illness or incapacity. Additionally, the form enables individuals to outline specific instructions regarding their medical treatment, such as preferences for life-sustaining measures, pain management, and organ donation. By providing clear guidance, the directive not only alleviates the burden on family members during difficult times but also ensures that a person's values and desires are respected. The form is designed to be straightforward and accessible, allowing individuals to complete it without requiring extensive legal knowledge. In California, the directive is recognized as a vital tool for personal autonomy in healthcare, reflecting the state's commitment to honoring individual choices in medical care.

Common mistakes

  1. Failing to clearly identify the health care agent. It's important to choose someone you trust and who understands your wishes.

  2. Not discussing your wishes with your health care agent. Open communication ensures they know your preferences and can advocate for you effectively.

  3. Leaving sections of the form blank. Each part of the form is significant, and incomplete sections can lead to confusion or misinterpretation.

  4. Using vague language when describing your health care preferences. Specific instructions help avoid ambiguity and ensure your desires are met.

  5. Not signing and dating the document properly. A lack of signatures can render the directive invalid.

  6. Overlooking the need for witnesses or notarization. California law requires these for the directive to be legally binding.

  7. Failing to update the directive when circumstances change. Life events such as marriage, divorce, or changes in health may require revisions.

  8. Not providing copies of the directive to relevant parties. Share the document with your health care agent, family members, and medical providers.

  9. Neglecting to review the directive periodically. Regular reviews ensure that your wishes remain current and reflect your values.

Key takeaways

The California Advanced Health Care Directive form is an essential tool for individuals to express their healthcare preferences. Here are some key takeaways to consider when filling out and using this form:

  • Understand the Purpose: This directive allows you to outline your medical care preferences in case you become unable to communicate your wishes.
  • Choose Your Agent Wisely: Select someone you trust to make healthcare decisions on your behalf. This person should understand your values and wishes.
  • Be Specific: Clearly state your preferences regarding life-sustaining treatments, pain management, and other medical interventions.
  • Discuss with Family: Before finalizing the form, have open conversations with family members about your wishes. This can help prevent confusion and conflict later.
  • Review Regularly: Your health care preferences may change over time. Regularly review and update the directive to reflect your current wishes.
  • Sign and Date: Ensure that you sign and date the form. In California, the directive must be signed in front of a witness or notarized for it to be valid.
  • Distribute Copies: After completing the form, share copies with your chosen agent, family members, and healthcare providers to ensure everyone is informed of your wishes.

By taking these steps, you can ensure that your healthcare preferences are respected and followed, providing peace of mind for both you and your loved ones.

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

PAGE 3 of 7

(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

PAGE 5 of 7

(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

PAGE 6 of 7

 

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)

 

 

 

Understanding California Advanced Health Care Directive

What is a California Advanced Health Care Directive?

A California Advanced Health Care Directive is a legal document that allows individuals to outline their preferences for medical care in the event that they become unable to communicate their wishes. It combines both a durable power of attorney for health care and a living will, providing a comprehensive approach to advance care planning.

Who can create an Advanced Health Care Directive?

Any adult who is at least 18 years old and of sound mind can create an Advanced Health Care Directive in California. This document is especially important for individuals who wish to ensure their medical preferences are honored if they become incapacitated.

What should I include in my Advanced Health Care Directive?

Your Advanced Health Care Directive should include:

  • Your choices regarding medical treatments and procedures.
  • Names of individuals you appoint as your health care agents.
  • Instructions for end-of-life care, such as whether you want life-sustaining treatments.
  • Any specific wishes regarding organ donation.

Be clear and specific to avoid confusion about your wishes.

How do I appoint a health care agent?

To appoint a health care agent, you must designate someone you trust in your Advanced Health Care Directive. This person will have the authority to make medical decisions on your behalf if you are unable to do so. Ensure that your chosen agent understands your values and preferences regarding health care.

Is it necessary to have a lawyer to complete the Advanced Health Care Directive?

No, it is not necessary to have a lawyer to complete an Advanced Health Care Directive in California. The form can be filled out on your own. However, consulting with a lawyer may be beneficial if you have specific questions or complex medical wishes.

How do I ensure my Advanced Health Care Directive is valid?

To ensure your Advanced Health Care Directive is valid in California, you must:

  1. Sign the document in the presence of two witnesses or a notary public.
  2. Make sure the witnesses are not your health care agents or related to you by blood or marriage.

These steps help confirm that your wishes are legally recognized.

Can I change or revoke my Advanced Health Care Directive?

Yes, you can change or revoke your Advanced Health Care Directive at any time as long as you are of sound mind. To make changes, simply create a new directive and ensure that you follow the proper signing and witnessing requirements. Inform your health care agents and family members of any changes to avoid confusion.

How to Use California Advanced Health Care Directive

Filling out the California Advanced Health Care Directive form is an important step in ensuring your healthcare wishes are known and respected. This process involves a few key steps that will guide you through providing necessary information and making your preferences clear.

  1. Begin by downloading the California Advanced Health Care Directive form from a reliable source or obtaining a physical copy from a healthcare provider or legal office.
  2. Read the instructions carefully to understand each section of the form.
  3. In the first section, fill in your personal information, including your full name, address, and date of birth.
  4. Designate a healthcare agent by writing their name and contact information. This person will make healthcare decisions on your behalf if you are unable to do so.
  5. Specify any limitations or specific instructions for your healthcare agent, if applicable. This may include preferences for certain medical treatments or procedures.
  6. In the next section, outline your wishes regarding life-sustaining treatments. Clearly indicate your preferences for resuscitation, artificial nutrition, and hydration.
  7. Sign and date the form in the designated area. Ensure that you do this in the presence of a witness or notary public, as required by California law.
  8. Have at least one witness sign the form, confirming that they observed you signing and that you are of sound mind. Alternatively, have the document notarized.
  9. Make copies of the completed form for your records and share them with your healthcare agent, family members, and healthcare providers.

Once you have completed the form, keep it in a safe place and inform your loved ones where to find it. It is advisable to review your directive periodically and update it as necessary to reflect any changes in your healthcare preferences or circumstances.