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Hawaii residents may now alert health-care providers that they have an "advanced health care directive" by putting it on their driver's license and state identification cards. Driver’s licenses
now can carry owner’s
health directivesStar-Bulletin staff
They have the option of adding the code "AHCD" to their license, as well as the organ donor designation.
"An advance health care directive is a statement about your wishes and instructions for health care in the event you can no longer speak for yourself due to an accident or serious illness," said Marilyn Seely, director of the state's Executive Office on Aging.
"It is a gift to family members and friends so that they won't have to guess what you want."
The directive may include instructions on whether a person wants to receive pain medicine or various medical procedures, she said. Spiritual, ethical and religious instructions also may be included.
The designation will tell health-care providers such documents are available and alert staff that there are instructions to guide a person's health care, she said.
Complete advance health care directives should be filed with physicians and religious providers if appropriate. The documents should be copied to agents named and all family members or friends who might be involved in a person's care, Seely said.
Informational brochures with an advance health care directive outline are available at driver's license offices and satellite city halls.
For more information, check the Web site:
http://www.hawaii.edu/uhelp or call:
Oahu: University of Hawaii Elder Law Program, 956-6544.