Advance Directive
In the state of Maryland, each person has the right to request or refuse medical treatment. Subject to the state’s interest in protecting third parties, each patient has the right to make an Advance Directive, or to execute Powers of Attorney that authorize others to make decisions on their behalf.
Western Maryland Surgicenter does not honor Advance Directives. Health care providers at Western Maryland Surgicenter are bound to do all in their power to assure the safe recovery of every patient, including resuscitation if that becomes necessary. All adult patients are asked if they have an Advance Directive, which is placed in their medical record. Adult patients are also informed that an Advance Directive will not be honored while they are a patient at Western Maryland Surgicenter.
If an adverse event occurs during your treatment at Western Maryland Surgicenter, we will initiate resuscitative or other stabilizing measures and transfer you to the Western Maryland Regional Medical Center for further evaluation. At the Western Maryland Regional Medical Center, further treatments or withdrawal of treatment measures already begun will be ordered in accordance with your wishes, Advance Directive or health care Power of Attorney. Your agreement with this facility’s policy will not revoke or invalidate any current health care directive or health care Power of Attorney.
If you wish to complete an Advance Directive, copies of official state forms are available at Western Maryland Surgicenter. Forms are also available for West Virginia and Pennsylvania.