• A W Broadwell, E V Boisaubin, J K Dunn, and H T Engelhardt.
• Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Tex.
• South. Med. J. 1993 Feb 1;86(2):165-8.

AbstractA survey of 200 outpatients using an anonymous, self-administered questionnaire revealed that 18% had already completed an advance directive. Only 5% had received information concerning advance directives from their physicians. Eighty-seven percent stated they would not be offended if, on admission to the hospital, they were to be asked whether they had completed a living will. Eighty-eight percent would view such a policy as showing evidence of positive concern by the hospital on their behalf. Only 2% consistently gave a negative response to a proposed policy of hospitals providing information concerning advance directives on admission, and a similar percentage was totally opposed to their use. Of those who had completed an advance directive, 50% had secured the only copy in a safety deposit box. This information, as well as the Patient Self-Determination Act of 1990, which will as of December 1, 1991 require hospitals to provide patients with information about advance directives, creates a new framework for the more efficient use of these important but underused documents.

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