What should I know about Psychiatric Advance Directives in Georgia?

Contents

• What is a psychiatric advance directive?
• Who should use a psychiatric advance directive?
• What decisions can I make in a psychiatric advance directive?
• When would a psychiatric advance directive go into effect?

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What is a psychiatric advance directive?

A psychiatric advance directive (PAD) is a legal document that allows you to explain how you want to receive or not receive mental health care when things are not going well.

•  It is only temporary and lasts until your mental health crisis is over.   

•  It allows you to choose an agent to make mental health care decisions for you if you cannot.

  • A mental health care agent is someone that you can designate to act on your behalf when you are unable to make decisions on your own.  The agent must act according to the instructions you describe in the PAD. The agent can make decisions about your mental health care like admission to or discharge from a facility and authorizing or refusing treatments and medications. The agent can receive information about your treatment and has access to your medical records. 

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Who should use a psychiatric advance directive?

You might want to create a psychiatric advance directive if you have experienced a mental health crisis, or have a mental health diagnosis.  The PAD is a way for you to decide who does (and does not) have control of your mental health decisions.

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What decisions can I make in a psychiatric advance directive?

When you create a psychiatric advance directive, you can:

• explain whether you want to receive a treatment, service, or procedure to lessen a mental health crisis, developmental disability, or addictive disease.   

• provide instructions for the treatment that you want.   

• explain what other areas of your life you want cared for while you are experiencing a crisis.

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When would a psychiatric advance directive go into effect?

A PAD can be used anytime after you have filled it out (add link to form) and given it to the appropriate people. However, it will only be used when you are experiencing a mental health crisis and are unable to make your own decisions. 

• The PAD takes precedence over any terms in an existing document that relates to mental health.

•  Health care providers must fully follow the PAD and the instructions that are listed, as long as it is possible. 

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Contents

• How do I create a psychiatric advance directive in Georgia?
• What information do I include in my PAD?
• How do I choose an agent for my psychiatric advance directive?
• How can I end or revoke a psychiatric advance directive?

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How do I create a psychiatric advance directive in Georgia?

Create a PAD by filling out the form and giving the form to the appropriate people. You can find the Georiga Psychiatric Advance Directive form with instructions on GeorgiaLegalAid.org.

Once you have created a PAD, give a copy to:

• Your agent, if you have chosen one

• Your health care professionals at the mental health center

• Your health care providers that you named in your psychiatric advance directive

• Any hospital where you have been a patient or plan to be a patient

• Any hospital where you want to be treated or might be in the future

• Friends and family

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What information do I include in my PAD?

• Anyone that you want to be notified if you have a mental health crisis

• What happens to you during your crisis

• Who is going to help you recover

• Where you would like to go if emergency treatment is needed

• The alternatives you prefer as opposed to hospitalization

• The health care professionals you want involved in your care or those who should be consulted

• The types of medical treatment that you want or do not want

•  Medical conditions or allergies that doctors should be aware of

•  People you would permit as visitors if you were hospitalized

• People to contact who can help with everyday life such as childcare.

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How do I choose an agent for my psychiatric advance directive?

• Your agent needs to be easily accessible in case you have a mental health crisis or emergency.

•  When doctors say that you lack the capacity to make decisions due to your mental health, your agent will be asked to speak for you. 

• Your agent will follow what is laid out in your psychiatric advance directive form. 

• Your agent may also have to make decisions about your care that are not spelled out in your psychiatric advance directive, which can give them control over your treatment. 

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How can I end or revoke a psychiatric advance directive?

• You may revoke the psychiatric advance directive at any time that you are able to make informed decisions about your mental health care.

•  If you choose to revoke this form, you must communicate your revocation to anyone that you have given this form to. 

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