Psychiatric Advance Directives: A Compelling Tool to Support Crisis Care-Presentation Q&A

Video Transcription

Video Summary

In this video, B.B. and Marvin answer various questions related to psychiatric advance directives (PADs). They explain that healthcare entities are usually immune from legal consequences if they honor a PAD in good faith. For those interested in PAD training workshops, Southern Regional AHEC in Fayetteville, North Carolina, may be able to provide information, and participants from nearby states, like South Carolina, could potentially attend. Regarding notaries in PADs, employees can serve as notaries, but witnesses must be independent of the facility. The use of PADs for patients with suicidal tendencies could provide them with a sense of control and lead to increased engagement in treatment efforts. Psychiatrists are generally open to complying with PADs once they understand the caveats, such as not compromising community standards of care or conflicting with other laws. However, a gap in practice is the lack of systematic assessment of a person's capacity. In terms of minors and adolescents, PADs are more suitable for adults, but a crisis plan could be developed collaboratively between the patient, parents, and clinician. At the end of an inpatient hospitalization, PADs could be introduced as part of the discharge plan. The availability of PADs varies across states, and the National Resource Center on Psychiatric Advance Directive provides a state-by-state guide on their website. The video suggests that Congress should make advance directives transportable across states. In cases where different individuals are listed on healthcare power of attorney (POA) and PAD documents, legal advice is necessary to determine which form takes precedence. To address the issue of witnesses, workshops have been effective in having participants witness each other's PADs. Other strategies include involving community members or churchgoers who can vouch for the person's mental state and identity. The video emphasizes the importance of finding practical solutions to overcome barriers to creating PADs, especially for marginalized or economically disadvantaged individuals.

Keywords

psychiatric advance directives

healthcare entities

Southern Regional AHEC

suicidal tendencies

National Resource Center on Psychiatric Advance Directive