Ohio Advance Directives: A Guide for Hospice Patients

Thinking about end-of-life care is one of the most profound and challenging conversations a family can have. It brings up deep emotions and difficult questions. Yet, making your wishes known through legal documents is an incredible gift to your loved ones, providing clarity and peace of mind during a stressful time. In Ohio, these documents are known as advance directives, and they are essential for ensuring your voice is heard when you cannot speak for yourself.

Understanding these forms is an act of empowerment. It allows you to maintain control over your healthcare decisions, ensuring your values and preferences are respected. This guide will walk you through Ohio’s key advance directives, the Living Will and Health Care Power of Attorney, along with POLST-type forms and DNR orders, so you can make informed choices that align with your wishes.

Ohio Living Will Explained

A Living Will is a foundational legal document that outlines your preferences for medical treatment in end-of-life situations. In Ohio, a living will is a written declaration explaining which medical treatments you would or would not want to be used to keep you alive if you are terminally ill or permanently unconscious. This document speaks for you when you are no longer able to communicate your desires.

In Ohio, the advance directive packet often combines two crucial documents: the Ohio Living Will Declaration and the Health Care Power of Attorney. The Living Will specifically addresses life-sustaining treatments, such as mechanical ventilation, artificial nutrition, and hydration, giving you the power to accept or refuse them based on your personal values.

Health Care Power of Attorney in Ohio

While a Living Will states your wishes, a Health Care Power of Attorney (HCPA) appoints a person to enforce them. This document designates a trusted individual, known as your agent or attorney-in-fact, to make medical decisions on your behalf if you become incapacitated. This person should be someone who understands your values, is willing to advocate for you, and can make difficult decisions under pressure.

Your agent’s authority begins only when your physician determines you can no longer make decisions for yourself. Their role is to interpret your wishes as stated in your Living Will and make judgments on any medical situations not explicitly covered by it. Choosing this person carefully is one of the most important steps in advance care planning.

POLST and MOLST Forms in Ohio

Many states use a POLST form (Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment). A POLST is not an advance directive. It is a medical order for people with a serious illness or advanced frailty, and it turns their wishes into instructions that paramedics and other clinicians can follow. It usually covers CPR, the overall level of treatment, and feeding tubes.

Ohio has not had a standard statewide POLST form. Ohio lawmakers have worked on a bill to create one, called MOLST (Medical Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment). Until a MOLST law takes effect, the main medical order Ohio emergency crews follow about CPR is the DNR order described below. Ask your doctor or hospice team which forms apply to you.

DNR Orders in Ohio

A Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order is another specific medical order, not an advance directive. It instructs healthcare providers not to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) if your heart or breathing stops. For hospice patients focused on comfort and quality of life, a DNR is often a key part of their care plan, preventing aggressive and often painful interventions that may not align with their goals.

In Ohio, a DNR Comfort Care order must be signed by a doctor, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant. Without one, emergency medical providers must perform CPR. Ohio has two versions, DNR Comfort Care and DNR Comfort Care Arrest, so ask your provider which one fits your wishes. A DNR order is especially important for patients receiving care at home or in a non-hospital facility.

How to Properly Execute Advance Directives in Ohio

For your advance directives to be legally binding, you must follow specific state requirements. In Ohio, your Living Will and Health Care Power of Attorney must be in writing and signed by you. Your signature must be witnessed by two eligible adults or acknowledged before a notary public. Witnesses cannot be related to you by blood, marriage, or adoption, nor can they be your attending physician or the administrator of a nursing home where you are a patient. These rules are set out in Ohio Revised Code section 2133.02 (living will) and section 1337.12 (health care power of attorney). The person you name as your health care agent can't witness your power of attorney either.

You can find free forms that follow Ohio law through the Ohio Hospital Association, your doctor, or your local hospital. Taking the time to execute these documents correctly ensures your wishes will be honored.

Where to File and Share Your Directives

Once your advance directives are signed and witnessed or notarized, it is vital to share them. A legal document no one knows about cannot protect you. Give copies to:

• Your healthcare agent and any alternate agents.
• Your primary care physician and any specialists.
• Your local hospital.
• Your hospice care provider.

Keep the original document in a safe but easily accessible place. Do not put it in a safe deposit box, as your family may not be able to access it when it is needed most. Review your directives every few years or after a major life event to ensure they still reflect your wishes.

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Navigating advance care planning can feel overwhelming, but it is a powerful step in directing your own healthcare journey. These documents provide clarity for your family and medical team, ensuring everyone is united in honoring your choices and preserving your dignity.

If you are exploring your options or need help understanding how these documents apply to hospice care, our compassionate team is here to provide guidance. For support with Ohio advance directives, please call Cairo Hospice at (614) 910-2662.

You can also download our Complete Guide to Hospice Care for comprehensive information about the services and support available to you and your family.

Key Takeaways

• Ohio advance directives include a Living Will to state your medical treatment wishes and a Health Care Power of Attorney to appoint a decision-maker.
• A DNR Comfort Care order, signed by a doctor, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant, tells emergency crews your wishes about CPR. Ohio has not had a standard statewide POLST form.
• To be legally valid in Ohio, your advance directives must be in writing and either notarized or signed in the presence of two qualified witnesses.