Shannon, Marina (WG) Critical Care PD Specialist wrote:
> Retaining this type of patient information would seem reasonable and
> pragmatic, where systems allow, as many patients often only lodge these
> statements with their GP or primary carers/family, which might mean it
> is unavailable in an emergency.
>
> I have one query tho'. Does anyone who accepts this information set a
> time limit which requires patients to update or endorse a directive as
> evidence of their continuing commitment to its contents?
>
There in lays the difficulty.
1. What if the patient had the AD on record at the hosp, perhaps from
communication from a GP who has the original - and the patient rescinds the
DA at the GP, does the GP have a responibility to communicate with everyone
it might have been communicated too? I suggest that this is impractical.
2. What if...any other scenario where duplication of a submission made to
one person at one point in time.
Partial solution:
One paper copy - lodged, likely with GP but could be anyone.
Healthworkers have to access that person to access AD information.
Likely also quite impractical
Better solution:
A Personally Controlled Health Record. Patient in control of what is held
on it. AD's go there. Agreed by all. Single place to look. Accessible
by all (patient has password either cognitively or physically (medic alert
etc).
I would suggest that AD's entere in electronic systems by other healthcare
workers, often unknown to us, at other times are not things that would
easily attract our trust.
Regards all
Jel Coward
(from the Open-Source Health Care Alliance where we will be presenting an
open-source (free (both as in beer and as in freedom) Personally Controlled
Health Record)
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