Homepage Printable California Advanced Health Care Directive Form in PDF

California Advanced Health Care Directive Preview

ADVANCE HEALTH CARE DIRECTIVE FORM

 

PAGE 1 of 7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Print Form

 

Reset Form

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

PAGE 4 of 7

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

PAGE 7 of 7

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)

 

 

 

Documents used along the form

The California Advanced Health Care Directive is an important document that allows individuals to express their healthcare preferences and appoint someone to make medical decisions on their behalf if they become unable to do so. Alongside this directive, several other forms and documents can enhance clarity and ensure that one's wishes are respected. Here is a list of some commonly used documents that often accompany the California Advanced Health Care Directive.

  • Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care: This document designates a specific person to make healthcare decisions for someone if they are incapacitated. It is similar to the Advanced Health Care Directive but focuses solely on medical decisions.
  • Living Will: A living will outlines an individual’s preferences regarding life-sustaining treatments and procedures. It specifies what types of medical interventions one does or does not want in case of terminal illness or irreversible condition.
  • Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Order: A DNR order is a medical order that instructs healthcare providers not to perform CPR if a person stops breathing or their heart stops beating. It is often used in conjunction with other advance directives.
  • Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST): This form translates a patient's preferences regarding treatment into actionable medical orders. It is designed for individuals with serious illnesses and ensures that their wishes are followed in emergency situations.
  • Organ Donation Form: This document allows individuals to express their wishes regarding organ donation after death. It can be included as part of the Advanced Health Care Directive or as a separate form.
  • Durable Power of Attorney: To ensure proper management of your affairs, consider our essential Durable Power of Attorney form resources for comprehensive understanding and legal compliance.
  • Health Information Release Form: This form authorizes healthcare providers to share a person’s medical information with designated individuals. It can be crucial for family members or caregivers who need access to medical records.
  • Patient Advocate Form: This document designates a person to advocate for a patient’s rights and preferences in a healthcare setting, ensuring their voice is heard during treatment decisions.
  • Medication Management Plan: This plan outlines how medications should be managed, including dosages and schedules. It is particularly useful for individuals with chronic conditions requiring ongoing medication.
  • End-of-Life Care Plan: This document provides detailed instructions about preferred end-of-life care, including palliative care options and any specific wishes regarding comfort measures.

These documents work together to create a comprehensive approach to healthcare decision-making. By utilizing them alongside the California Advanced Health Care Directive, individuals can ensure their healthcare preferences are clearly communicated and respected, providing peace of mind for themselves and their loved ones.

Similar forms

  • Living Will: Similar to the California Advanced Health Care Directive, a living will outlines your preferences for medical treatment in situations where you are unable to communicate your wishes. It primarily focuses on end-of-life care.
  • Sales Receipt: A sales receipt serves as proof of a transaction and details the items purchased, including their prices and quantities. It is important for record-keeping and can be easily created using a template like the Sales Receipt.

  • Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care: This document allows you to appoint someone to make medical decisions on your behalf if you become incapacitated, much like the agent designation in the Advanced Health Care Directive.
  • Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Order: A DNR order specifies that you do not wish to receive CPR or other life-saving measures. It complements the Advanced Health Care Directive by addressing specific medical interventions.
  • POLST (Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment): This form translates your treatment preferences into actionable medical orders, providing immediate guidance to healthcare providers, similar to the directives in the Advanced Health Care Directive.
  • Health Care Proxy: Like the Durable Power of Attorney, a health care proxy designates someone to make medical decisions for you. It functions similarly by ensuring your health care wishes are honored.
  • Advance Directive for Mental Health Care: This document focuses on mental health treatment preferences and appoints a decision-maker, akin to the broader health care directives in the Advanced Health Care Directive.
  • Organ Donation Registration: While not a direct substitute, this document expresses your wishes regarding organ donation, complementing the health care decisions outlined in the Advanced Health Care Directive.
  • Release of Medical Records Authorization: This form allows designated individuals to access your medical records, ensuring that your appointed decision-makers have the necessary information to act in your best interest.
  • Living Trust: Although primarily focused on asset management, a living trust can include health care directives, ensuring that your wishes are respected in both financial and medical matters.
  • Emergency Medical Information Form: This document provides critical health information to first responders, similar to the Advanced Health Care Directive in that it helps ensure your treatment preferences are known in emergencies.

Misconceptions

The California Advanced Health Care Directive is an important legal document that allows individuals to express their healthcare preferences. However, several misconceptions can lead to confusion about its purpose and use. Here are four common misconceptions:

  • It only applies to terminal illnesses. Many people believe that the directive is only relevant for those facing terminal conditions. In reality, it can be used for any situation where an individual is unable to communicate their healthcare wishes, regardless of the diagnosis.
  • It can only be created by an attorney. Some individuals think that a lawyer must draft the directive. While legal assistance can be helpful, the form is designed to be user-friendly and can be completed by anyone without legal representation.
  • It is a one-time document that cannot be changed. There is a misconception that once the directive is signed, it cannot be altered. In fact, individuals can update or revoke their directive at any time, as long as they are mentally competent to do so.
  • It is only necessary for older adults. Many assume that only seniors need an advanced health care directive. However, anyone over the age of 18 can benefit from having one, as unexpected health issues can arise at any age.

Understanding these misconceptions can help individuals make informed decisions about their healthcare preferences and ensure their wishes are respected.

Understanding California Advanced Health Care Directive

  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 in case you become unable to communicate your wishes. It combines two important components: a health care power of attorney and a living will.

  2. Who can create an Advanced Health Care Directive?

    Any adult who is 18 years or older can create an Advanced Health Care Directive in California. You should be of sound mind when filling out the form to ensure that your wishes are clearly expressed.

  3. What are the key components of this directive?
    • Designating a health care agent: You can appoint someone to make medical decisions on your behalf.
    • Specifying medical treatment preferences: You can indicate your wishes regarding life-sustaining treatments, resuscitation, and other medical procedures.
    • Organ donation: You can express your wishes about organ donation after death.
  4. How do I fill out the form?

    You can obtain the form online or from a legal document preparer. Fill in your personal information, designate your health care agent, and specify your treatment preferences. It’s crucial to be clear and specific about your wishes.

  5. Do I need witnesses or notarization?

    Yes, California law requires that your Advanced Health Care Directive be signed by either two witnesses or a notary public. Witnesses must be adults who are not related to you and cannot be your health care agent.

  6. Can I change or revoke my directive?

    Absolutely. You can change or revoke your Advanced Health Care Directive at any time, as long as you are mentally competent. It’s best to inform your health care agent and any medical providers about any changes you make.

  7. Where should I keep my directive?

    Keep your Advanced Health Care Directive in a safe but accessible place. Provide copies to your health care agent, family members, and your medical providers. This ensures that your wishes are known and can be followed when needed.