Susan’s mother just had a massive heart attack and the attending physician was asking what her code status was.
Susan and her mother had never had a conversation about her health care decisions. Now she was facing a decision and she wasn’t sure what her mother wanted.
In another situation, a family of five finds themselves at odds with one another as they consider what they should do with their father. The youngest wants to keep her dad on life support and the oldest doesn’t think that her father would want to be kept alive by life support.
Both scenarios are real and are faced everyday in hospitals. Thankfully with careful insight, a person can complete a health care cirective and eliminate any guess work as to their desires.
Health care directives give direction to an agent and your health care team. The agent should be someone who will respect your requests and enforce the legal document. The agent can speak for the individual when they cannot speak for themselves. This document can be changed at your request.
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Who needs to complete a health care directive? Everyone. Accidents happen and your health changes. Although it may be difficult to talk about your own mortality, a health care directive states your wishes if you are not able to speak for yourself. This conversation is easier to have before something happens than in an emergency room.
Who should receive this document?
Your health care provider, family, and agents should receive the document. We encourage you to talk to your family and friends, share your concerns and talk through possible scenarios.
How do I start to complete this document? Starting the conversation is the first step. There are many resources to help answer questions and get you started. Honoring Choices Minnesota honoringchoices.org has conversation starters along with videos.
How do I complete a health care directive? You can obtain a document online at Minnesota Honoring Choices at honoringchoices.org . Essentia Health offers an online class every month on health care directives (or advance care directives) — the next class will be from 11 a.m. to noon, Friday, April 16. The link to register for this event is: bit.ly/3u9Zoue .
Cuyuna Regional Medical Center will be hosting a booth from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, April 16, at their main entrance lobby to help you complete a health care directive. They will have social workers available to help complete the forms.
Chaplains at Essentia St. Joseph’s Medical Center, 523 Third St., Brainerd, can assist you with completing your health care directive and answer any questions you might have; they can be reached at 218-828-7530. Mary Novotny at Cuyuna Regional Medical Center, 320 E. Main St., Crosby, can assist you in completing your health care directive; she can be reached at 218-546-7000, ext. 4222.
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