Psychiatric Advance Directives (PADs): A Tool for Improving Crisis Care and Legal Issues for Implementation-View Presentation Slides

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The document details a webinar by the American Psychiatric Association focused on Psychiatric Advance Directives (PADs), exploring their role in crisis care and the legalities involved in their implementation. The webinar offers continuing education credits for various healthcare professions and provides a platform for Q&A. The faculty includes Dr. Debra A. Pinals from the University of Michigan and Dr. Marvin Swartz from Duke University, both distinguished in psychiatry.<br /><br />PADs are legal instruments allowing individuals to outline treatment preferences for future mental health care, including the appointment of a Health Care Power of Attorney (HCPA) who can make decisions should the individual become incapacitated. The webinar outlines the benefits of PADs, such as supporting patient autonomy, reducing involuntary treatment, and improving care continuity. Legal origins trace back to the Patient Self-Determination Act of 1991, which required hospitals to implement advance directives.<br /><br />The session discussed barriers to PAD implementation, noting only about half the states have specific laws, and the process can be challenging for some patients. Despite this, interest is growing with specific statutes being adopted in multiple states since 1991. PADs differ from end-of-life directives by being self-binding when a patient is deemed 'incapable'.<br /><br />Case law, such as the 1990 Supreme Court decision in Cruzan v. Director, Missouri Department of Health, emphasizes the necessity of 'clear and convincing evidence' of patient wishes, highlighting PADs' importance in medical records and decision-making. Resources and tools for implementing PADs, including the SMI Adviser mobile app and online portals, were also shared. Overall, the webinar aims to equip healthcare professionals with an understanding of the PAD process and its significance in psychiatric care.

Keywords

Psychiatric Advance Directives

crisis care

legalities

continuing education

patient autonomy

Health Care Power of Attorney

Patient Self-Determination Act

Cruzan v. Director

SMI Adviser app

psychiatric care