How do health professionals know if a patient has an advance directive?
• Answer: Many hospitals and clinics will ask the patient or family about the existence of advanced directives when they are admitted to the hospital. In fact, some states require hospitals to do this and to offer blank documents if the patient has no advance directives. The existence of an advance directive is documented prominently in the medical chart. Also, health professionals should document any discussions with the patient about their end-of-life desires or treatment preferences in their medical record. Immunity Physicians and health care providers are immune from civil, criminal, and disciplinary action if they follow the advanced directive statute in good faith and meet its provisions. Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Orders Advanced directives are not DNR orders. DNR orders are written by doctors to indicate that a patient should not be resuscitated. The order may be written to reflect a patient’s or surrogate’s expressed wishes about resuscitation, or because the patient will not be
