TERMS OF USE
Huron Regional Medical Center (HRMC) provides this website as an informational and communication service. These terms and conditions contain disclaimers of liability, which you should read carefully.
NOT MEDICAL ADVICE
The information included on this website is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical advice. Always contact your physician or other qualified healthcare provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. No information contained on this website is intended or implied to be for medical diagnosis or treatment. This website does not constitute an attempt to practice medicine nor does it establish a doctor-patient or hospital-patient relationship.
NO WARRANTIES
While the website attempts to remain current, healthcare information changes rapidly and the website should not be relied upon as comprehensive or error-free. HRMC cannot and does not guarantee or warrant that files available for downloading through the website will be free of viruses or code that could cause damage to your computer and the information and files contained within your computer. If you use this website, you are responsible for taking steps necessary to protect your computer and the information on it.
LINKS TO OTHER WEBSITES
Links to other websites are provided for your convenience only. Our inclusion of links to these third-party websites does not imply endorsement or agreement with any of the information, materials, advice, views, opinions, estimates, forecasts, conclusions, predictions or recommendations contained on these third-party websites. HRMC is not responsible for the privacy practices on other websites and when you leave the HRMC website, we encourage you to be aware and read the privacy statements of those websites to ensure your priv
PRIVACY
HRMC respects your personal privacy. We will never share any of your personally identifying information gathered on this website (such as your name, street address, etc.) with any third party. HRMC may use information gathered on the website to improve the editorial content and navigation of the website, and we may occasionally inform you of new features, services and products. For more information, see HRMC’s Privacy Policy.
Your Rights as a Patient
At HRMC, we are dedicated to helping you heal and part of that is making sure your visit is a safe and positive experience, where your wishes and privacy are honored. As our patient, you have certain rights in how you receive care and how we communicate your private health information. Being aware of these rights and your responsibilities can help make your experience as pleasant and healing as possible.
ADVANCED DIRECTIVE
Most of us like to be in charge of our lives and have the right to decide what treatment we do and do not want. But if you are seriously ill, injured or dying, you may not be able to speak for yourself and your family may be faced with difficult decisions. Making your wishes known beforehand and completing an advance directive will help those involved make decisions about your care. Without an advance directive, your healthcare provider will turn to your family for decisions – and it may not be what you want.
An advance directive is not just for the elderly or terminally ill, but is for all adults. It does not need to be completed by an attorney; however, it must be signed, witnessed and, possibly, notarized. The following are three types of forms:
- Living Will A Living Will directs what treatment to provide or withhold when you are terminally ill and death is imminent or if you are permanently unconscious. It only becomes effective when you are no longer able to speak for yourself.
- Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care A Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care appoints someone to speak for you when you are no longer able to direct your care. This could include an illness, accident or terminal condition. If you improve and are able to speak for yourself, then you resume the ability to direct your care.
- Comfort One in South Dakota provides quick identification of patients who choose not to receive life-prolonging treatment (e.g., chest compressions, breathing tubes, shock, etc.) by emergency personnel. Patients wear a special bracelet or have a document that states these requests and that the emergency team should only provide comfort measures.
When completing your advance directive:
- Write your requests clearly and be specific.
- Do not put originals in safety deposit box or other secure place that cannot be accessed when they are needed.
- Make copies of your documents and share them with your family members, spokesperson, attorney, physician, healthcare center and anyone else involved in your health care.
- Revisit your directives as you age or your health changes. Your care decisions may change.
- If you decide to make changes, complete a new form and communicate your wishes to all involved.
- Laws differ from state to state. If you are traveling or moving, you may need to adjust your information.
For more information on completing an advanced directive, please visit the following websites:
- National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, www.nhpco.org
- Aging with Dignity, www.agingwithdignity.org
- Caring Connections, www.caringinfo.org
- American Hospice Foundation, www.americanhospice.org
- South Dakota State Medical Association, www.sdsma.org
- South Dakota Hospice Organization, www.southdakotahospice.org
- Life Circle South Dakota, www.LifeCirclesd.org
- South Dakota State, www.state.sd.us
Source: Comprehensive Cancer Control South Dakota
Starting the Conversation
Talking about end-of-life issues can be uncomfortable and it is difficult to know how to raise the subject. It is much better for the conversation to begin at the kitchen table, rather than in the emergency room or ICU. The Conversation Project is a national campaign dedicated to helping people talk about their wishes for end-of-life care. For more information about starting the conversation, visit The Conversation Project.
Spanish Patient Rights
Directivas Anticipadas
Muchos de nosostros nos gusta estar a cargo de nuestras vidas y tener el derecho de decidir que tratamiento queremos hacer y cual no. Pero si usted está seriamente enfermo, herido o muriendo, podría ser que no pueda hablar por usted mismo y su familia tendrá que afrontar decisiones difíciles.
Haga que sus deseos sean conocidos de antemano completando una directiva anticipada para que ayude a quienes esten envueltos en las decisiones acerca de su cuidado. Sin una directiva anticipada, su doctor le preguntará a su familia por decisiones – y puede que no sea lo que usted quiere.
Una directiva anticipada no es solamente para ancianos o con enfermedades terminales, es para todo los adultos. No necesita ser completado por un abogado; sin embargo, debe estar firmado, con testigos y posiblemente notariado. Los siguientes son tres tipos de formas:
- Testamento de Vida – El Testamento de Vida se refiere a que tratamientos quiere que se le den y cuales no cuando en caso de que tenga una enfermedad terminal y su muerte sea inminente, o si usted está permanentemente inconsiente. Esto es efectivo solamente cuando usted ya no tenga más la habilidad de hablar por usted mismo.
- Poder Notarial Duradero para Cuidado de Salud – Poder Notarial Duradero para Cuidado de Salud señala a alguien para hablar por usted cuando a usted ya no le sea posible dirigir su propio cuidado. Esto puede incluir enfermedad, accidente o condición terminal. Si usted mejora y puede hablar por usted mismo, entonces usted reasume sus habilidades de dirigir su propio cuidado.
- Comodidad Primero – Comodidad Primero en Dakota del Sur provee una rápida identificación de los pacientes quienes escogen no recibir un tratamiento prolongado de vida (ej., compresión de pecho, tubos para respirar, toques o choques eléctricos, etc.) por el personal de emergencia.Los Pacientes usan un brazalete o tienen un documento donde solicita esto y el equipo de emergencia solo debe proveerle medidas de comodidad. Para más información, visite www.sdemta.org.
Cuando esté completando sus directivas Anticipadas:
- Escriba su solicitud claramente y sea específico.
- No ponga las originales en caja de seguridad o en otros lugares de seguridad que no tengan acceso cuando se necesiten.
- Haga copias de sus documentos y compartalos con los miembros de su familia, portavoz, abogado, doctor, centro de salud y compartalos con quien esté envuelto en su cuidado de salud.
- Revise sus directivas según su edad avance o cuando su salud cambie. Sus decisiones acerca de su cuidado pueden cambiar
- Si Usted decide hacer cambios, complete una nueva forma y comunique sus deseos a todos los que estén envueltos.
- Las leyes difieren de estado en estado. Si Usted esta viajando o mudóndose, usted puede que necesite ajustar su información.
Recurso: Centro Comprensivo y Control de cancer de Dakota del Sur