POLICY:
All individuals have the right to make decisions concerning their medical care, including the right to accept or refuse medical or surgical treatment and the right to formulate advance directives. The Ithaca College Student Health Service respects this right and will follow explicitly any such directive. If such directive is available and the patient is to be referred to another facility a copy of the directive should be sent with the patient.
Students requesting information on formulation of advanced directives for inclusion in their medical records should be referred to the College Counsel.
PURPOSE:
This facility provides patients with the Healthcare Proxy and Living Will forms when they are in a conscious state of mind as determined by the medical professional.
(1) The Healthcare Proxy allows patients the right to make decisions about their health before they lose the ability to make the decisions. Patients will also be able to appoint someone they can trust to make these healthcare decisions in case they lose the ability to make the decision. All of these policies are under the New York State law.
(2) The Living Will allows patients to state how they want to be cared for in case an extreme terminal condition limits them from making conscious medical decision as determined by the physician. The will must be signed and witnessed by two adults who the patient trusts. Changes can be made by the patient’s request to the healthcare <b>provider</b>.