National Healthcare Decision Day

  • Published
  • By Sara Bender
  • 354th Fighter Wing Legal Office
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  End of life decisions are not something we like to think about. It's hard to imagine that an illness or injury can be so bad you can't come back from it. Although it is a difficult topic, it is important to think about these things and plan accordingly. 

The second annual National Healthcare Decision Day takes place on April 16 and is meant to highlight the importance of documenting healthcare decisions in case of terminal illness or incapacitation. 

Two ways of documenting wishes for healthcare decisions are to have an Advance Medical Directive in the form of a Healthcare Power of Attorney or a Living Will prepared. 

A Healthcare Power of Attorney is a document that designates another person to make healthcare decision when you can't. A Living Will documents what types of procedures you don't want used during end of life care to prolong life. For example, if you do not want to be put on life support, this document expresses those wishes. 

Why is this important? Having these decisions clearly spelled out can avoid conflict and possible court battles for loved ones in the event of serious illness or injury.
 
Take the high-profile case of Terry Schaivo, a Florida woman who was found unresponsive in 1990 and was soon diagnosed to be in a permanent vegetative state. She did not have an Advance Medical Directive of any kind and a court battle ensued between her husband and parents until her death in March 2005. 

This case is just one of many cases that could have been prevented by a documented Advance Medical Directive. A Healthcare Power of Attorney would have given a specific person the power to make these decisions for Terry Schaivo and a Living Will would have taken away the pain of making the decisions for her family members. 

For military members, dependents and retirees, obtaining either type of Advance Medical Directive is simple--it can be prepared at your base Legal Office by appointment. 

To mark National Healthcare Decision Day, Advance Medical Directives will be prepared on a walk-in basis on April 16 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Legal Office. 

For more information call 377-4114 or visit http://www.nationalhealthcaredecisionsday.org/facts.htm.