The Final Word on Medical Decisions

The article “The Last Word” on Dec. 19 unfortunately gives readers an incomplete and unnecessarily pessimistic picture of their rights to create and use advance directives in California.

The federal Patient Self-Determination Act mandates the dissemination of information by health-care providers about state law concerning medical decision-making and advance directives.

California law provides effective methods for people to make sure their wishes will be carried out when they can no longer make their own decisions. The new Natural Death Act, which went into effect Jan. 1, allows a person to state in a declaration that he/she does not want life-prolonging treatment if terminally ill or permanently unconscious. Doctors must follow this advance directive or transfer the person’s care to someone who will. Not to do so is a misdemeanor.

The article ends with a concern that non-English-speaking people will not get the information mandated under the act. But the Pacific Center for Health Policy and Ethics has made the patient brochure created by the state Consortium on Patient Self-Determination and adopted by the state Department of Health Services available in 11 languages to health-care providers. They can get this brochure as well as a second, more detailed brochure called “Making an Advance Directive” and the Natural Death Act Declaration forms in English and Spanish at the Pacific Center at USC.

Between the Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care, which has been available since 1984, and the new Natural Death Act Declaration, Californians have the means to make sure that their wishes are followed.

VICKI MICHEL

Los Angeles