Advance directives are legal documents that govern how your health care decisions are made and notify your doctors and others about your wishes in case of a serious medical problem that prevents you from deciding for yourself. In New York State, appointing someone you can trust to decide about treatment if you become unable to decide for yourself is the best way to protect your treatment wishes and concerns. You have the right to appoint someone by filling out a form called a health care proxy. Examples of advance directives are:

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• A Health Care Proxy

• A Living Will

• A Do Not Resuscitate Order (DNR)

• Medical Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (MOLST)

 

The physicians and staff at Empire Center for Special Surgery value our patients’ rights to make informed decisions regarding their healthcare. It is the policy of Empire Center for Special Surgery that DNR orders be suspended while you are a patient at the center. Instead, life sustaining measures will be provided until you can be safely transferred to the nearest hospital where the suspension of the DNR will be lifted. If provided with advance directive documentation, we will include it with your medical records on transport to the hospital in the event of an unexpected transfer.