Erie County Government - Official website of the Erie County, NY Government
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Health Education
Health Care Proxy
Do you know what type of care you want to receive if you ever become seriously ill? Does your family?
Listed below are some points that everyone should know about the New York State Health Care Proxy Law:
- Every competent adult has the right to refuse medical treatment, even treatment needed to sustain life.
- You have the right to appoint a health care proxy to make decisions for you in the event that you are unable to make them for yourself.
- Your appointed proxy must make decisions as you would have made them. If your wishes are unknown, then your proxy must make decisions in your best interest.
- If you have not appointed a proxy then, under New York State law, there is no one who becomes your proxy by default.
- If you do not have a proxy then, life-sustaining treatment will be provided unless there is clear evidence that you would not have wanted it.
The following link to the New York State Department of Health's website has the official Health Care Proxy form that New York State residents should use. http://www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/hospital/healthcareproxy/intro.htm
The Western New York Health Care Proxy Coalition is comprised of representatives from area employers committed to educating the public about the importance of completing a health care proxy. For more information visit the Coalition's website at www.Ihaveone.org.
Internet Resources (revised 09/23/05)
(Web links frequently change; try using a search engine if a link is broken.)
Information on advance directives and end-of-life issues can be obtained from the following:
New York State Department of Health
Information for consumers and links to information about the Health Care Proxy form and the Form in various languages:
http://www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/hospital/healthcareproxy/intro.htm
Information for professionals:
http://www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/consumer/patient/hcproxy.htm
"Advance Care Planning, Compassion and Support at the End of Life, How to maintain control, achieve peace of mind, and assure your wishes are honored" for NYS residents
www.univerahealthcare.com or www.compassionandsupport.org
American Bar Association Consumer's Toolkit for Health Care Advance Planning
www.putitinwriting.org
National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, (703) 837 1500
www.nhpco.org or www.caringinfo.org
Aging with Dignity, 1 (888) 5 WISHES, 1 (888) 594 7437, Five Wishes Document
www.agingwithdignity.org
The Center for Hospice & Palliative Care, (716) 686 1900
www.palliativecare.org
Upstate New York Transplant Services, (800) 227 4771
www.unyts.org
"On Our Own Terms" with Bill Moyers
www.pbs.org/wnet/onourownterms
Family Decisions Coalition
www.familydecisions.org
AARP, End of Life information
www.aarp.org/life/endoflife
Americans for Better Care of the Dying
www.abcd-caring.org
Living with Dying in America
www.findingourway.net
"Religious Guidance on End of Life Decisions", by Michael S. Arlein
www.elderweb.com/default.php?PageID=839
Your information resource from the government of Erie County, New York
