In the state of Florida, all patients have the right to participate in their own health care decisions and to make Advance Directives or to execute Power of Attorney that authorize others to make decisions on their behalf based on the patient’s expressed wishes when the patient is unable to make decisions or unable to communicate decisions. The Gulf Pointe Surgery Center respects and upholds those rights.
However, unlike in an acute care hospital setting, the Surgery Center does not routinely perform “high risk” procedures. Most procedures performed in this facility are considered to be of minimal risk. Of course, no surgery is without risk. You will discuss the specifics of your procedure with your physician who can answer your questions as to its risks, your expected recovery, and care after surgery.
Therefore, it is our policy, regardless of the contents of any Advance Directive or instructions from a health care surrogate or attorney-in-fact, that if an adverse event occurs during your treatment at this facility, we will initiate resuscitative or other stabilizing measures and transfer you to an acute care hospital for further evaluation. At the acute care hospital, further treatments or withdrawal of treatment measures already begun will be ordered in accordance with your wishes, Advance Directive, or Healthcare Power of Attorney. Your agreement with this facility’s policy will not revoke or invalidate any current health care directive or health care power of attorney.
If you wish to complete an Advance Directive, copies of the official state forms are available at our facility or you may obtain a copy via the Florida.gov site: Florida.gov's page for Advance Directives
If you do not agree with this facility’s policy, we will be pleased to assist you in rescheduling your procedure.