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Misconceptions

Many people have misunderstandings about the California Advanced Health Care Directive form. Here are some common misconceptions along with clarifications:

  1. It is only for the elderly.

    This form is for anyone over 18. Young adults should also consider making their wishes known.

  2. It requires a lawyer to complete.

    You do not need a lawyer to fill out this form. It is designed to be user-friendly.

  3. It only covers end-of-life decisions.

    The directive can address various health care decisions, not just those related to end-of-life care.

  4. It is not legally binding.

    When properly completed and signed, it is a legally binding document in California.

  5. Once completed, it cannot be changed.

    You can update or revoke your directive at any time as long as you are competent.

  6. It only applies to medical treatment.

    This form can also address preferences for organ donation and other health care decisions.

  7. It is only useful in hospitals.

    This directive is applicable in various health care settings, including nursing homes and outpatient care.

  8. It requires witnesses to be family members.

    Witnesses can be anyone who is not related to you and who does not stand to benefit from your estate.

  9. Healthcare providers will not follow it.

    Healthcare providers are legally required to follow your wishes as stated in the directive.

File Details

Fact Name Description
Purpose The California Advanced Health Care Directive allows individuals to specify their health care preferences and appoint an agent to make decisions on their behalf if they become unable to do so.
Governing Law The directive is governed by the California Probate Code, specifically Sections 4600 to 4806.
Eligibility Any adult who is 18 years or older can complete an Advanced Health Care Directive in California.
Witness Requirements The form must be signed by the individual and witnessed by at least two adults who are not related to the individual or entitled to any part of their estate.
Revocation Individuals can revoke their directive at any time, provided they communicate their intention to do so clearly.

Key takeaways

Filling out and using the California Advanced Health Care Directive form is an important step in planning for your future health care needs. Here are some key takeaways to keep in mind:

  • The directive allows you to appoint someone you trust to make medical decisions on your behalf if you become unable to do so.
  • You can specify your preferences for medical treatment, including life-sustaining measures and palliative care.
  • It is essential to discuss your wishes with your chosen agent to ensure they understand your values and desires.
  • The form must be signed and dated in the presence of a notary public or two witnesses who are not related to you.
  • Once completed, provide copies to your health care agent, family members, and your medical providers.
  • You can change or revoke your directive at any time, as long as you are mentally competent.
  • Keep your original directive in a safe but accessible place, and inform your agent where to find it.
  • Review your directive periodically, especially after significant life changes, to ensure it still reflects your wishes.

Dos and Don'ts

When completing the California Advanced Health Care Directive form, it is important to approach the process with care. Below is a list of essential actions to take and avoid, ensuring that your wishes are clearly communicated.

  • Do: Clearly identify your health care agent, ensuring they understand your wishes.
  • Do: Discuss your values and preferences regarding medical treatment with your agent.
  • Do: Complete all sections of the form to avoid ambiguity.
  • Do: Sign and date the document in the presence of a witness or notary public, as required.
  • Do: Keep copies of the completed directive in accessible locations.
  • Don't: Leave any sections blank, as this may lead to confusion about your wishes.
  • Don't: Choose an agent who may have conflicting interests or who may not honor your preferences.
  • Don't: Use vague language; be specific about your health care preferences.
  • Don't: Forget to review and update your directive periodically, especially after significant life changes.
  • Don't: Assume that verbal agreements will suffice; written documentation is crucial.

Common mistakes

  1. Not appointing a health care agent: Many individuals forget to designate a health care agent to make medical decisions on their behalf. Without this appointment, there may be confusion about who is authorized to act in critical situations.

  2. Failing to provide specific instructions: Some people leave the section for specific medical wishes blank or too vague. Clear and detailed instructions help ensure that their preferences are followed in medical emergencies.

  3. Not signing and dating the document: A common oversight is neglecting to sign and date the form. This step is crucial, as an unsigned directive may not be considered valid by healthcare providers.

  4. Ignoring witness requirements: The directive must be signed in the presence of witnesses or notarized. Failing to meet these requirements can lead to the directive being challenged or deemed invalid.

What You Should Know About This Form

  1. What is a California Advanced Health Care Directive?

    A California Advanced Health Care Directive is a legal document that allows you to outline your healthcare preferences and appoint someone to make medical decisions on your behalf if you become unable to do so. This document ensures your wishes are respected and provides guidance to your loved ones and healthcare providers.

  2. Who can be appointed as my agent in the directive?

    You can choose any competent adult to be your agent. This can be a family member, friend, or trusted individual. It’s important to select someone who understands your values and is willing to advocate for your healthcare preferences.

  3. What types of decisions can my agent make?

    Your agent can make a variety of healthcare decisions, including choices about medical treatments, surgeries, and end-of-life care. They can also make decisions about where you receive care, based on your preferences outlined in the directive.

  4. Can I change or revoke my Advanced Health Care Directive?

    Yes, you can change or revoke your directive at any time as long as you are mentally competent. To make changes, simply create a new directive or write a statement revoking the previous one. It’s advisable to inform your healthcare providers and agent of any changes you make.

  5. Do I need a lawyer to create this directive?

    No, you do not need a lawyer to create a California Advanced Health Care Directive. You can fill out the form on your own. However, consulting with a legal professional can help ensure that your document meets all requirements and accurately reflects your wishes.

  6. Is the directive valid if I move to another state?

    Generally, a California Advanced Health Care Directive is valid in other states, but laws can vary. It’s wise to check the specific requirements of the state you are moving to. Some states may have their own forms or additional requirements for healthcare directives.

  7. How do I ensure my healthcare providers know about my directive?

    To ensure your healthcare providers are aware of your directive, provide them with a copy and discuss your wishes with them. You can also include a note in your medical records indicating that you have an Advanced Health Care Directive.

  8. What happens if I don’t have an Advanced Health Care Directive?

    If you do not have an Advanced Health Care Directive, medical decisions may be made by your family members or legal guardians, which may not align with your wishes. Having a directive in place helps avoid confusion and ensures your preferences are followed.

  9. How can I obtain a California Advanced Health Care Directive form?

    You can obtain a California Advanced Health Care Directive form online through various legal and healthcare websites, or you can request one from your healthcare provider. The form is also available at hospitals and community health organizations.

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

PAGE 2 of 7

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)