About Personal Care Directives
We respect our patients’ right to make informed decisions about their health care and treatment options. You are encouraged to discuss your wishes with your doctors, health care provider(s) and your family.
If you have a personal care directive, which may also be called an advance directive or a living will, please bring it with you to the hospital. A personal care directive can include your wishes and directions for your care and/or be a document appointing someone to make health care decisions on your behalf if you are no longer capable of making these decisions yourself. This document must be signed by you, and witnessed by someone other than the person you have chosen to make decisions for you. Staff members are not permitted to act as witnesses.
For more information about personal care directives including sample forms, visit the Government of Nova Scotia website or call 1-800-670-4357.
Code Status
During your admission or hospital stay, you may be asked to think about what types of life saving measures you want us to use if your breathing or heart stops while you are a patient. You are encouraged to discuss your wishes with your doctors and your family, including the person you have chosen to make decisions for you. This information can also be included in your personal care directive.
Organ Donation
If you are considering becoming an organ or tissue donor, or have already signed your organ donor card, you are encouraged to discuss your wishes with your family to ensure your wishes are granted. We believe every family deserves the opportunity to grant a loved ones’ wish to be an organ and tissue donor. You are also encouraged to discuss this with your doctor and health care providers.