ADVANCE HEALTH CARE DIRECTIVE

An Advance Health Care Directive (AHCD) allows a person to specify another adult, in the case of incapacity, to communicate or make health care decisions for him or her. For a Christian Scientist, having such a document prepared, and in effect, prior to a time of need, is especially important. An AHCD can also allow the individual to state, in a legally recognized way, his or her desire to receive health care in accord with the theology and practice of Christian Science, and to refuse medical treatment. Having an AHCD in effect may be an important factor for an individual who is required to sign (or have a legal representative sign) a Medicare Election Form in order to use Medicare benefits to pay for Christian Science nursing care.

It is advisable for every adult to have an AHCD in place. An attorney can help an individual draw up an Advance Health Care Directive. Off-the-shelf medically oriented versions of these documents may be purchased at many stationery stores. Arden Wood has worked with an attorney to produce a draft AHCD that may be useful for many Christian Scientists living in California (download PDF copy).

If you are interested in establishing an Advance Health Care Directive for yourself (or you are helping another person to do so, such as a parent or friend), we have general information that could be helpful to you in working with an attorney or in drawing up your own document (download PDF copy). It is highly recommended that you hire an attorney to review, or write, an AHCD for you to make sure it complies with the laws of the state where you reside. If you would like to learn more and/or receive a draft version of an AHCD adapted for the purposes of Christian Science treatment and care in California, we would be happy to send you this information, or you can download a PDF copy using the links provided above. If you request a paper copy, a modest donation to help cover printing and postage costs would be appreciated.

Simply write your request and send a check to:

   Arden Wood Information & Development Office

   Arden Wood

   445 Wawona Street

   San Francisco, CA 94116-3058

Or email your request to: mshays@ardenwood.org and indicate if you would like the information sent to you in Adobe PDF format via email.