Physicians often play an integral role in assisting patients with advance directives, which are written instructions that should be followed when such patients become unable to make their own health care decisions. Advance directives allow patients to specify health care they would like to receive or refuse if they are deemed incapable of making an informed decision. Advance directives also specify an agent to make decisions on behalf of the patient in these situations. Learn more about how you may assist patients in developing advance directives. Also, every year, there is a National Health Care Decisions Day, which falls around mid-April. This initiative began to encourage patients to express their wishes regarding health care decisions and end of life care. Please use the important message from this initiative to encourage patients to execute their advance directives – tools are available below.
Advance directive FAQs Advance directive script (National Health Care Decisions Day) National Health Care Decisions Day Web site Virginia State Bar Web page Virginia advance medical directive form (vhha.com - PDF) Law revised to enhance health care decision-making rights (vsb.org) Virginia Department for the Aging – Advance medical directive (vda.virginia.gov)