Saskatoon Health Region believes in the importance of honoring your choices. An Advance Care Directive can guide resuscitation decisions for individuals at hospitals or long term care. If your heart or breathing stops we want to be able to provide the care that you need and want.
An Advance Care Directive (also known as a living will) is a legal document that helps your proxy or substitute decision maker and health care team understand your choices for resuscitation and other healthcare treatments.
When you are not able to make healthcare decisions, The Health Care Directives and Substitute Health Care Decision Makers Act requires your proxy(s) or substitute decision maker to make all your healthcare decisions based on your known wishes (or best interests when wishes are unknown). Share your wishes with your family and involve anyone who might make healthcare decisions for you when you are very ill.
If you have an Advance Care Directive, please give it to your healthcare team and a copy will be placed in your chart. At home, consider placing your Advance Care Directive on or in the refrigerator so that paramedics can find it and bring it to the hospital. Copies of your directive can also be given to family members.
You are encouraged to complete an Advance Care Directive with your healthcare team, if you do not have one.
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