Social work and Advanced Directives

Paper Summary:

The paper discusses end-of-life decisions, advance directives and patient advocacy that are issues within the scope of the health care social worker. The paper shows how the complexity of legal and medical issues involved in the creation of a living will and/or providing surrogate instructions is beyond the medical or legal training of the social worker.

From the Paper:

"A social worker acts as a patient advocate. Social workers are charged with promoting patient respect and respect in treatment in end-of-life situations. The National Association of Social Workers was one of the first professional organizations to actively participate in support of the ethical dilemmas inherent in caring for individuals during end of life circumstances by issuing the formal policy statement "Client Self-Determination in End-of-Life Decisions in 1993 (Luptak, 2004). In the area of living wills, the social worker should only be part of a team that can help you address end-of-life issues and decisions and the member of the team to assure that other healthcare providers such as doctors and other facility staff know of your decisions ("How social workers," 2004). In the health care social worker's job, no task is more important than advocating for patients' wishes in end of life decisions."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Aitken, P. V. (1999). Incorporating advance care planning into family practice. American Family Physician. Retrieved on November 2, 2006 from http://www.highbeam.com/ doc/1G1:53979627
• Anderson, M. D. (2005). Advance care planning real life story: Advance directives help you plan your care. Cancerwise. Retrieved on November 2, 2006 from http://www.helpstartshere.org/seniors_and_aging/advance_care_planning/real_life_stories/advance_care_planning_real_life_story.html
• Are living wills followed? (2000). The World Federation of Right to Die Societies. Retrieved on November 2, 2006 from http://www.worldrtd.net/news/world/?id=424
• Bern-Klug, M. (2004). The ambiguous syndrome. Health and Social Work. Retrieved on November 2, 2006 from http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1g1:112986554
• FAQs about advance directives, healthcare surrogates & Living wills. (2004). Jackson Health System. Retrieved on November 2, 2006 from http://www.um_jmh.org/body.cfm?id=1634

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