Preparing for Surgery

Advance Directives

Living Will & Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare

Wentworth-Douglass Hospital respects your right to make decisions about your medical care. This includes the right to accept or refuse medical or surgical treatment and the right to complete Advance Directives.

If you already have an Advance Directive, please bring it with you. Otherwise, you will be given information about Advance Directives at the time of admission. This booklet includes forms for the Living Will and the Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare.

Due to the time involved Advance Directives cannot be completed on the day of surgery, but you can ask to see a social worker and make an appointment to complete the forms.

To arrange to complete an Advanced Directive prior to your surgery, call the Social Work Services at 740-2826.

For additional information, visit the American Hospital Association “Put It In Writing” website.

www.putitinwriting.org/putitinwriting/index.jsp