Your Rights As A Patient

Facts about Cancer

Mercy supports your rights, consistent with law and ethical principles, to give directives in advance concerning your medical treatment in the event of special, serious medical conditions. Ohio Law allows you to create two types of “advance directives:”

• Living Will for Health Care – a document stating your treatment wishes.
• Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care – a document appointing another person to make treatment decisions for you in the event you are unable to do so.

Each of these documents would only take effect if you are unable to express your wishes during the course of your medical treatment.

Mercy hospitals and affiliates have trained individuals on staff who can assist you in exercising these rights and to understand and execute these documents.

To obtain advance directive forms, contact the hospital's Pastoral Care department or for online information please see our Advance Directives information.

For additional information about advance directives, visit the website of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization at nhpco.org or in Ohio, the Ohio Hospice and Palliative Care Organization at ohpco.org.