End of Life Planning

Prepare for This Discussion: Review the description of advance directives in this week’s Learning Resources. Download and print an advance directive form that is valid in your state. A link to these forms is available at: http://www.caringinfo.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3289. Identify an individual you can interview in person about advance directives. This may be a friend, family member, or other acquaintance that has not yet completed an advance directive form. Sit down with this person, and invite him or her to read the form and consider completing it. It does not matter whether the person actually does so or not. Take notes on any questions the person asks, whether he or she understands the purpose of the form, whether the person thinks the form is a useful way of dealing with future health care issues, and other key points and concerns expressed during the interview. By Day 3 Post a cohesive response to the following: Analyze the ways in which an advance directive might support a patient’s legal and ethical rights. Considering the interview you conducted, describe any questions, comments, or concerns your interviewee expressed regarding how an advance directive supports their legal and ethical rights. Then, evaluate the impact an advance directive might have on end-of-life care from the perspective of health care providers and organizations. Apply ACHE policy for end-of-life planning for patients.