When you're wheeled into the emergency room, the last thing you think about is something going wrong. But it can and does happen, regardless of whether you're 19 or 79. Charleston Area Medical Center is trying to help other hospitals and doctors offices get the word out. It is estimated that complications develop in at least one percent of the operations or 500 procedures.
Families often have to make life or death decisions about a patient's wishes.
That's why state law requires hospitals to offer several documents for patients who need any potentially dangerous procedure. A medical power of attorney and living will work together to relief your family of that burden of guilty. The medical power of attorney gives someone the ability to tell the doctor exactly what treatment you've made clear you want. If you don't have someone acting on your behalf with a medical power of attorney, the living will itself spells out exactly what you do and don't want. Dr. Point says a doctor must have a second physician agree that this patient is a subject for a living will.