Medical Advance Directives - Chapter 6

Medical advance directives tell others how to make medical decisions when you no longer can speak for yourself. Living wills, medical durable powers of attorney and C.P.R. directives are examples of medical advance directives used in Colorado.

A federal law, the Patient’s Self-Determination Act, requires health care facilities to inform patients of their rights regarding health care decisions. Patients must be provided with information about their right to have advance directives, the types of advance directives available in the state, and the policies of that health care facility in following the instructions of an advance directive. Health care facilities cannot require you to have an advance directive in order to treat you, and they cannot discriminate against you whether you have one or not.