FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 04/05/2022
Greencastle, Indiana.
A healthcare representative is the person you choose to make healthcare decisions for you if you should become unable to speak or make decisions for yourself.  You may legally identify your healthcare representative in an advance directive.  If you do not do so, and become unable to make your own healthcare decisions, Indiana law decides who can do this for you according to a priority list.  In this situation, your physician will try to contact a representative for you using the priority list. Your health care choices will be made by the person your physician is able to contact.  

Your representative doesn’t need to be a medical expert, but he/she should be someone who can apply your general values to specific medical circumstances and make decisions that are consistent with your wishes.  Ideally, your healthcare representative will have the following qualities: 

• Will talk with you now about sensitive issues and listen to your wishes.
• Lives close by or could travel to be at your side if needed.
• Able to communicate your wishes and handle conflicting opinions between family members, friends, and medical personnel.
• Able to make decisions on your behalf that are in line with your wishes and values and to separate his/her own feelings from yours.
• Can be a strong advocate and comfortable asking questions of doctors and other busy providers and standing up for you and your wishes if necessary.

This information is being provided by Putnam County Hospice and Palliative Care Association.   For more information visit www.pchpca.org or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..