All adult individuals in healthcare facilities such as hospitals, nursing homes, home health agencies or health maintenance organizations have certain rights under Florida law. You have a right to fill out a paper known as an “advance directive.” The paper says in advance what kind of treatment you want or do not want under special, serious medical conditions – conditions that would stop you from telling your doctor how you want to be treated. For example, if you were in a coma and taken to a healthcare facility, would you want the facility’s staff to know your specific wishes about decisions affecting your treatment?
