It is the right of a competent adult (19 years of age or older) to make his or her own decision regarding accepting or rejecting medical or surgical treatment after having been informed about the benefits, risks and consequences of initiating, withholding, or withdrawing treatment.

The patient has the right to complete an Advance Directive, which is a document in which a person either states choices for medical treatment (a living Will) or designates who should make treatment choices if the person should lose decision- making capacity (Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care). The Advance Directive can express the patient's preference to have life-sustaining procedures withheld or withdrawn in the event that the patient is unable to participate in decisions regarding his or her continuing or future care.

Sample documents can be provided upon request. Please ask the nursing or Admitting staff.