What is a medical advance directive?
Advance Directives are written instructions. They express your decisions about the kinds of medical care you want to receive in an emergency. In Colorado, medical Advance Directives include:  

• A Medical Durable Power of Attorney. This names a person you trust to make decisions for you if you cannot speak for yourself.
• A Living Will. This tells your doctor what type of life supporting procedures you want and do not want. 
• A Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Directive. This is also known as a “Do Not Resuscitate” order. It tells medical persons not to revive you if your heart and/or lungs stop working.

Why Do I Need to Know About Advance Directives?
Federal law requires that we tell you about Colorado’s laws relating to your right to make health care decisions. This requirement applies to all adult patients, no matter what their medical condition. Even though CHP only provides mental health services, we still must tell you about Colorado’s law on Advance Directives.

For more information about Advance Directives, talk with your Primary Care Physician (PCP). To get a copy of CHP’ policy on Advance Directives, call OMFA at 303-432-5956 or 1-866-245-1959.

Your provider will ask you if you have an Advance Directive. If you wish, your provider will put a copy of your Advance Directive in your medical file. If a medical provider does not follow your Advance Directive, you may call the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment at 303-692-2980.

CHP will provide your mental health care whether or not you have an advance directive.

• Policy on Advance Directives
• Colorado Law - Advance Directives
• Advance Directives Training