Advance directive
If something goes wrong  say you have an adverse reaction to the anesthesia  it's useful for the doctors to have a certain degree of flexibility to correct the error. (Joseph Daniel Fiedler / For The Times)
By Lisa Zamosky, Special to the Los Angeles Times
June 13, 2011
When I checked into a surgical center recently for a procedure that required general anesthesia, I presented my advance healthcare directive. But as I read over the consent form for the surgery, I noticed one of the provisions advised me that the surgical center had chosen "not to honor" these directives.
Can a healthcare provider choose to ignore an advance directive? If so, what use are the directives?
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A healthcare provider can decline to honor an advance directive, and during surgery it's common for hospitals and surgery centers to do so as a matter of policy, says Doris E. Hawks, an attorney who chairs the bioethics committee of the Santa Clara County Medical Assn. When it comes to advance directives, laws in every state allow for "conscientious objection," which can be based on religious or ethical beliefs or medical standards.
Practically speaking, why would doctors refuse to comply with your directive during surgery? If something goes wrong say you have an adverse reaction to the anesthesia it's useful for the doctors to have a certain degree of flexibility to correct the error.
"Providers want to do everything possible to make sure the surgery is successful," says Charles Sabatino, director of the American Bar Assn.'s Commission on Law and Aging.
That doesn't mean the directives are a waste of time, however. Quite the contrary: Suspension of your advance directive should be time-limited. "You would go into surgery and the advance directive would be suspended," Hawks explains. "But once out of surgery, it would immediately be back in effect." Consumers should inquire about the exact time frame of the suspension.
If something goes wrong  say you have an adverse reaction to the anesthesia  it's useful for the doctors to have a certain degree of flexibility to correct the error. (Joseph Daniel Fiedler / For The Times)
By Lisa Zamosky, Special to the Los Angeles Times
June 13, 2011
When I checked into a surgical center recently for a procedure that required general anesthesia, I presented my advance healthcare directive. But as I read over the consent form for the surgery, I noticed one of the provisions advised me that the surgical center had chosen "not to honor" these directives.
Can a healthcare provider choose to ignore an advance directive? If so, what use are the directives?
* Related
*
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*
Seniors' sex lives are up — and so are STD cases around the country Seniors' sex lives are up and so are STD cases around the country
*
Staying safe during a hospital stay Staying safe during a hospital stay
* Stories
* Weight-loss surgery as safe for the elderly as for younger people Weight-loss surgery as safe for the elderly as for younger people
* Topics
* Medical Services
* Medical Procedures and Tests
* Surgery
* See more topics »
*
X
Hospitals and Clinics
Consumers
Tools and Hardware
Government Health Care
Medicare
Companies and Corporations
Insurance
Prices
Healthcare Provider
California
Computing and Information Technology
Procedural Sedation
Government
Justice System
Los Angeles
Health Insurance
Lawyers
Heads of State
Lab Tests
Aetna Inc.
Los Angeles Times
Cigna Corporation
A healthcare provider can decline to honor an advance directive, and during surgery it's common for hospitals and surgery centers to do so as a matter of policy, says Doris E. Hawks, an attorney who chairs the bioethics committee of the Santa Clara County Medical Assn. When it comes to advance directives, laws in every state allow for "conscientious objection," which can be based on religious or ethical beliefs or medical standards.
Practically speaking, why would doctors refuse to comply with your directive during surgery? If something goes wrong say you have an adverse reaction to the anesthesia it's useful for the doctors to have a certain degree of flexibility to correct the error.
"Providers want to do everything possible to make sure the surgery is successful," says Charles Sabatino, director of the American Bar Assn.'s Commission on Law and Aging.
That doesn't mean the directives are a waste of time, however. Quite the contrary: Suspension of your advance directive should be time-limited. "You would go into surgery and the advance directive would be suspended," Hawks explains. "But once out of surgery, it would immediately be back in effect." Consumers should inquire about the exact time frame of the suspension.
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