National Health Care Ethics Policy

The National Center for Ethics in Health Care is responsible for developing several VHA policies in health care ethics, noted below. In addition, the Center assists other program offices in the development of national VHA policies that have ethical implications.

National Center for Ethics in Health Care  (VHA Directive 1004) [PDF]

This directive defines the responsibilities of the National Center for Ethics in Health Care.

State-Authorized Portable Orders   (VHA Handbook 1004.04) [PDF] 

This handbook defines the use and execution of state-authorized portable orders including,

• procedures and documentation for implementing veterans' state-authorized portable orders
• procedures and documentation for offering and writing state-authorized portable orders for VHA patients as part of outpatient or home care or at discharge

Informed Consent for Clinical Treatments & Procedures
(VHA Handbook 1004.1) [PDF]

Advance Care Planning and Management of Advance Directives
(VHA Handbook 1004.2) [PDF]

Companion materials:

• new advance directive form, VA Form 10-0137, VA Advance Directive - Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care and Living Will [PDF] and
  
• patient education and information sheets, VA 10-0137A, Your Rights Regarding Advance Directives [PDF], and VA 10-0137B, What You Should Know About Advance Directives [PDF]
  
  
  
• The National Center for Ethics in Health Care in conjunction with the Mental Health Strategic Health Care Group has developed a worksheet that patients can use to document preferences for mental health treatment. This worksheet can be completed, initialed and dated by the patient and then attached to the VA Advance Directive, VA Form 10-0137. In addition, the Center has developed a worksheet to allow the patient to designate who to contact if he or she is unable to communicate. This worksheet can also be completed, initialed and dated by the patient and then attached to the VA Advance Directive, VA Form 10-0137. Both worksheets are in Word format.

Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Protocols within the Department of Veterans Affairs
(VHA Handbook 1004.3) [PDF]

Disclosure of Adverse Events to Patients   (VHA Directive 2008-002) [PDF]

The Center regularly publishes Ethics Rx, 1-page bulletins that clarify interpretation of policies for which the Center is responsible and provide succinct, timely, practical guidance on policy questions relating to health care ethics.

 

 

 

 

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