Resource Link

https://odpc.ucsf.edu/sites/odpc.ucsf.edu/files/pdf_docs/Video%20Script%20for%20Professionals%20and%20Policy%20Makers.pdf

Resource Description

Introduction: This document is a video script about Supported Health Care Decision-Making for professionals and policy makers. It comes from the Office of Developmental Primary Care. The script explains a new way to help people with disabilities make their own health care choices. It shows how this approach can work better than current legal options. The document is meant to teach doctors, lawmakers, and other professionals about this idea.

Resource Summary

Content Summary: People with disabilities face many problems when getting health care. Buildings can be hard to access. Doctors often have trouble knowing if patients can make their own choices. It can be unclear who has the legal right to help make decisions. Right now, there are a few legal ways people with disabilities can get help with medical choices. They can give someone Power of Attorney to make choices when they cannot. They can have a conservatorship or guardianship, which gives all choice-making power to someone else. These current options have problems. Conservatorship and guardianship cost a lot, are hard to undo, and take away the person's rights. The person often can't choose who helps them or how. If a family member can no longer serve as guardian, a court might pick someone who doesn't know the person at all. Supported Health Care Decision-Making is a new idea. It is based on the belief that people with disabilities should get help while still having control of their lives. This idea says people have the right to support no matter what their health issues are. Many people who can't make choices alone can do so with the right help. New laws are being planned to create Supported Decision-Making Agreements. These forms would let a person with a disability name trusted helpers. The agreements would make clear what roles each person has. They would also give legal protection to doctors, helpers, and patients. With these agreements, helpers can explain medical choices to the person. The person still has the right to decide on their care plan. Doctors can work with patients and their helpers when getting consent for care. Helpers can see medical records and help patients follow care plans. Helpers can solve many problems. They can help doctors and patients talk to each other. They can share health history and make care better overall. More information about this idea is available in videos and on the Autistic Self Advocacy Network website. The document ends with a list of people who helped make the video, including doctors, nurses, and disability rights experts.