Information And Resources About Advance Directive Documents

What is an Advance Directive?

The idea of an advance directive is to establish a recognized, legally-binding document you fill out while you are considered to be "competent." The laws surrounding, specific wording and effectiveness of these advance directives varies widely between nations, and even between regions, states and provinces within nations.

MindFreedom encourages everyone, especially any person who has been labeled with a psychiatric diagnosis, to research, prepare and sign formal, legal advance directive documents. These documents are sometimes called "advance directives, a "durable Power of Attorney for Health Care," or another similar document used in your area.

If you have someone you trust completely, it is often advantageous to designate that person as a "substitute decision maker" or as your "agent" which allows that person to assume power of attorney on your behalf in specified conditions or situations as outlined in your advance directive or another similar document(s).

It is best if the person whom you have designated as your agent is aware of your choices regarding health care, fully understands what will be expected if she/he needs to act on your behalf and resides close enough to you to be available if needed.

Of course, the mental health system today is so powerful that an advance directive does not totally protect any individual from coerced and forced psychiatric procedures, but an advance directive may help. The concept of the MindFreedom Shield Program is to activate a public activist network that will, ideally, fill in gaps left by your advance directive.

MindFreedom currently does not have the resources to provide legal assistance to you in researching and filling out an advance directive appropriate for your region and nation.

However, the following links have both general and specific information about advance directive documents as well as links to organizations that may be able to provide you with technical assistance in preparing your documents.

MindFreedom encourages people, especially any person who has been labeled with a psychiatric diagnosis, to prepare and sign formal, legal advance directive documents (advance directive, a durable Power of Attorney for Health Care or another similar document used in your state) as these documents are currently state specific. It is often very desirable to designate a "substitute decision maker," (i.e., an agent whom you give power of attorney in specified conditions/situations) in the advance directive or another similar document. Your wishes will best be protected if you designate an agent whom you trust, with whom you have discussed your desires and who resides close enough to you to be available if needed. While MindFreedom can not provide any advise or technical assistance, we offer the following information as a resource for your convenience. While many of the organizations listed below are Sponsor Groups in MindFreedom, MindFreedom does not specifically endorse or recommend any of these resources. The following links can provide you with general information and technical assistance in preparing your personal, state specific advance directive documents.

Pat Risser's Home Page
This is the direct url for the personal home page of one of the activists who originated the idea of a MindFreedom Shield. Pat has posted sample advance directive forms from the State of California and his own, personal advance directive documents as an example.

The Law Project for Psychiatric Rights
The Law Project for Psychiatric Rights (PsychRights) is a sponsor organization in MindFreedom and has been a dedicated supporter of the MindFreedom Shield Program and MindFreedom Solidarity Network. On PsychRights's website you'll find links to state specific advance directive information, among many other excellent resources.

The Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law
This site contains general information, including a template form, you can fill out and use as initial building blocks for your advance directive documents. You can access the Bazelon Center's template forms in a text version or a PDF version.

National Empowerment Center
This site contains lots of useful information including a few general articles about making advance directive documents work for you.

National Association of Protection and Advocacy Systems
You can use the above link to find your local Protection and Advocacy Systems agency.

National Association for Rights Protection and Advocacy
This is a different agency than the one listed above that may also be able to provide you with information about advance directive documents.

American Bar Association
Use the above link to locate your local American Bar Association lawyer referral service. This service should be able to refer you to an attorney who can prepare your state specific advance directive documents for you (most likely for a fee).