Health Care Proxy

The New York Health Care Proxy Law allows people of all ages to designate an agent to make health care decisions on their behalf in the event they can no longer do so. Forms are available by calling the Senior Citizens’ Hot Line at 1-800-342-9871 or the Columbia County Office for the Aging (518) 828-4258.

Living Will

Living wills are one type of advance directive. They only come into effect when you are terminally ill. Being terminally ill generally means that you have less than six months to live. In a living will, you can describe the kind of treatment you want in certain situations. A living will doesn't let you select someone to make decisions for you.

Contact the Columbia County Office for the Aging legal service provider
at 518-828-4258 for information.

Power of Attorney

What is involved in making and revoking durable powers of attorney, choosing an agent, determining powers that can be conveyed? (Powers of attorney cannot be used for health care decisions.) What are the advantages and disadvantages of durable powers of attorney or springing powers of attorney? What are the duties of an agent under a durable power of attorney? Contact the Columbia County Office for the Aging legal
service provider at 518-828-4258 for information.

Do Not Resuscitate (DNR)

Unless given other instructions, hospital staff will try to help all patients whose hearts have stopped or who have stopped breathing. You can indicate with an advance directive form or by talking with your doctor that you don't want to have cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) if your heart stops or if you stop breathing. In this case, a do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order is put in your medical chart by your doctor. DNR orders are accepted by doctors and hospitals in all states.

Most patients who die in a hospital have had a DNR order written for them before they die. Patients who are not likely to benefit from CPR include people who have cancer that has spread, people whose kidneys don't work well, people who need a lot of help with daily activities, or people who have severe infections such as pneumonia that require hospitalization. If you already have one or more of these conditions, you should discuss your wishes about CPR with you doctor, either in the office or when you go to the hospital. It's best to do this early, before you are very sick and are considered unable to make your own decisions.