This Act does not apply when the patient has a valid Living Will or Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care and the patient's condition falls within the coverage of those documents.

This new Act allows a "surrogate decision maker" such as a guardian, spouse, adult son or daughter, parent or friend to make health care decisions for those patients who have a "qualifying condition," such as an inability to make decisions or understand the consequences of a decision.

Specific guidelines apply to those cases and two physicians must determine that the patient lacks the decision capacity. If you want more information about this Act, please call Pastoral Care at extension 5480.

If you desire more information and/or copies of the Living Will and Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care, please call the Pastoral Care Department or ask your nurse to assist you.

The Ethics Committee at Little Company offers consultation services regarding ethical issues. Other staff members also available to help you reflect on your options are the social workers, chaplains, patient representatives, physicians, and case management representatives.