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Advocating for Yourself and OthersPower Patient 2008 Week 10Joyce Graff, Host, on webtalkradio.net
More than ten years ago, Fran agreed to be the Health Care Proxy for Lisa, a healthy young woman friend, never thinking she might be called upon. Recently, however, she was needed. Learn from Fran's experience why it is important to have a Health Care Proxy ready to advocate for you in an emergency.
Frank R. Johnson was trapped in a fire. He survived, and his life was entirely changed by the catastrophic injury he sustained. He has learned to live with his disability and to bring joy and hope to himself and others. He introduces his new comic book series which he hopes to make into a series of films: The Young Explorers Adventures (or Y.E.A.). His message: every person has hidden talents that will come to the fore when you are put to the test.
About Our Guests
Fran P. is a friend of mine here in Boston.
Frank R. Johnson, otherwise known as Fantastic Frank, has a website where he tells people about his disability, and “never give up on your dreams!” http://www.fantasticfrank.com/ He is launching a series of comic books at http://youngexplorersadventures.com/ where you can preview the first several pages of the first comic book. His dream is to see these comics become a series of films.
Health Care Proxy
The rules around Health Care Proxy and Living Will vary widely from state to state. In general, a Living Will deals only with giving instructions for what people should do if you are incapacitated by injury. A Health Care Proxy, on the other hand, is a legal document naming an individual who is authorized to speak with your doctors about your condition, and if necessary to make decisions in your name if you are unable to speak or participate in your own care.
Before the HIPAA laws, a close relative who came to the hospital and asked to speak with the doctor was usually granted permission to do so. Nowadays, however, no one even in your family who is not your legal spouse cannot speak with the doctors about your medical care unless you give specific permission for them to do so. In other words, if you do not appoint a Health Care Proxy, the hospital personnel will make decisions without your input. Your partner, unless he or she is your legal spouse, may be denied access to the doctors, and possibly even to the Intensive Care Unit.
The easiest and least expensive way to create a Health Care Proxy is to pick up the paperwork from your local hospital. To find a Notary Public, go to your bank and inquire. If you have an account at the bank, they will usually notarize documents for you without charge.
You can find other sources of help on the internet. One company that is prepared to create a document for whatever state you live in is http://www.legalzoom.com
While we all hope you do not need your Health Care Proxy to make life and death decisions for you, it is always a good idea to have a philosophical discussion with this person about your wishes should you be in a situation where you are on life-support machines. Would you want the doctors to keep trying? Up to what point? When would you agree that life support should be turned off?
Believe in Yourself
Fantastic Frank R. Johnson is on a mission to help people believe in themselves and appreciate their own talents. Everyone has hidden talents, that you may not even realize you have until you are put to the test. Frank has been a volunteer for www.compeer.com for nearly 30 years, working as a peer counselor with other disabled people. His secret is to focus on what you CAN do, and not keep worrying about what you CAN’T do any more. OK, so it doesn’t work. Now what are you going to do?
Get out there and do it!
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