Letter to a Body of Elders (information about the patient needed before contacting the Hospital Liaison Committee HLC) (2001)
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Hospital Information Services
25 Columbia Heights, Brooklyn, NY 11201-2483, U.S.A.
Phone: (718) 560-4300 Fax: (718) 560-4479 E-mail: his@wtbts.org
Dear Brothers:
We want to commend you for diligently following the instructions in the December 1, 2000, letter that resulted in an increased number of brothers filling out the Advance Medical Directive/Release (AMD) card and the Society's health-care durable power of attorney (DPA) form. Enclosed is an updated list of members of the Hospital Liaison Committee (HLC) to which your congregation is assigned. All elders should make several copies of this letter and listing in order to have one accessible at all times. Please do not make copies of this list for publishers or post it on the information board or read it to the congregation.
When should the Hospital Liaison Committee be contacted? It is wise to contact the HLC in advance to locate cooperative physicians/hospitals for those in need of complicated surgery or serious medical attention, especially older ones, children, and pregnant sisters. This will help the patient avoid complications and possible confrontation. Additionally, if a blood transfusion/court order is threatened, it would be wise to contact the committee promptly. As a reminder, the HLC arrangement is only for baptized and unbaptized publishers and their children. (Please see reverse side for additional information to consider before contacting the HLC.)
What should individual publishers do to prepare themselves for medical situations? Encourage additional brothers to fill out both medical directives (AMD and DPA) which will afford them the best legal protection. They should also be reminded to talk to their doctor about nonblood alternatives before the need for treatment arises.
How can elders work in cooperation with the HLCs? Please ascertain what the publisher's needs are before contacting the committee. At times the HLCs are asked basic questions that are answered in the Society's publications, which an elder could have handled (e.g., "Questions From Readers" in the June 15 and October 15, 2000, issues of The Watchtower). Additionally, love for God's sheep should motivate elders to visit the sick at home and in the hospital. Galatians 6:10.
Be assured of our sincere appreciation for the fine work accomplished by congregation elders in assisting individuals who face challenging medical situations. (Acts 15:29) We send our warm Christian love.
Your brothers in Jehovah's service,
Enclosure
Watchtower B. V. J. Society
OF NEW YORK, INC.
Assignment: INFORMATION ABOUT THE PATIENT THAT YOU NEED BEFORE CONTACTING THE HLC
The patient's name, age, and telephone number.
If the patient is hospitalized, please provide hospital name, room number, and patient's telephone number.
The congregation with which the patient or family is associated.
Has the patient requested that the HLC be involved?
Whether the patient is baptized or an unbaptized publisher.
Have you assisted the patient to complete an Advance Medical Directive/Release card and the Society's health-care durable power of attorney (DPA) form?
If possible, the name(s) of the doctor(s) involved.
The exact medical problem of the patient (e.g., open-heart surgery, treatment for leukemia or cancer, premature baby)
If available, some specifics on the patient's present medical condition, such as red blood cell count.
What treatment is the doctor using or recommending?
Telephone number where you can be reached.