A Maryland law called the Health Care Decisions Act allows you to decide under certain circumstances, in advance, that in the event of an unexpected medical crisis such as cardiac or respiratory arrest, no attempt should be made to resuscitate you, and all life sustaining procedures should be withheld from you. Also, in the event that you are incapacitated and unable to make such a decision on your behalf, medical decisions, including the decision to withhold or withdraw life support, may, under the same circumstances, be made for you by a “health care agent” previously designated by you or by a “surrogate” decision maker, such as your adult child, parent or spouse.

Because of the nature of this Facility, and recognizing that surgical services provided in this Facility are elective, Frederick Surgical Center has adopted the following policy in regard to patients who present to the center with an Advance Medical Directive:

During the care at the Frederick Surgical Center, if an adverse event occurs, based on reasons of conscience, all reasonable efforts will be taken to revive the patient, including resuscitative or other stabilizing measures, regardless of the contents of any advance directive/living will/health care proxy or instructions from a healthcare agent. If a patient chooses to seek alternative care due to the Center’s policy, we are happy to provide the appropriate referral.

A copy of the advance medical directive and/or living shall be placed in the patient’s medical record.

If transfer to an acute care facility becomes necessary, a copy of the advance medical directive or living will shall be provided to the hospital as part of the patient’s medical record.

Additional information regarding an advance directive can be provided to you upon request.