AFOVA New Letter 2 of Year 2021

Section 7 – Panorama CV 2 No. 02 / 2021 Page 310 of 332 Can the person making this decision cancel his/her decision or change the preferred priorities and binding refusals? Yes, the person making the Living Will can cancel their decision and discard this form any time. They can also change your preferred priorities and binding refusals at any time. They can also redo the form again and change the nominated persons. To ensure that everyone has the current version of the “Living Will” they are advised to destroy the earlier versions and keep a copy of the current version with them and share the current version with their general practitioner and with their hospital physician and hospital medical records. What is nominating a Surrogate or Health Care Power of Attorney? Medicine is an inexact and rapidly changing science. Not all situations can be foreseen. Some treatments that may have a binding refusal in the living will may be required for a short period and there may be a good chance of recovery. These situations require doctors and health care professionals to interact with someone who can represent the patient for shared decision making. This person is the Surrogate (also termed Health Care Power of Attorney). The Living Will allows the patient to appoint in advance some person(s) to make healthcare decisions if and when s/he is unable to make these decisions. The Living Will gives the Surrogate the authority to make decisions on behalf of the person only when the person has been determined unable to make their own decisions by the health care providers. It does not give authority to the Surrogate to make financial or other business decisions. It is very important for the person making the Living Will to discuss their views, values, and the provisions of this document with their Surrogate. It is important for the Surrogate to understand person’s wishes, preferences and the refusals stated in the document, accept and agree with the plan and willing to execute it at the appointed time. Preferably the consenting Surrogate should also sign on the Living Will form or the patient must confirm on the form that the Surrogate has accepted this responsibility. What are my role and responsibilities as a Surrogate (Health Care Power of Attorney)? This appointment shall become effective only when the person making the Living Will is unable to participate in the health treatment decisions. You will act on behalf of the person making the Living Will and advocate for person’s wishes, preferences and refusals stated in the document. You may have to advocate on behalf of the person with the person’s family, health care provider and hospital administration. You have to agree and accept the role of the Surrogate and if possible demonstrate your acceptance by signing the Living Will form. You will not exercise powers concerning the person’s finances or businesses, family custody, legal transactions, property, employment etc. You cannot receive