Thomasville Medical Center offers Notary Public services to patients and their families: contact the Admitting Office:
336-476-2411
Novant Health Thomasville Medical Center will follow the instructions expressed in a patient's
advance directive to the extent required by law. For patients who are unable to
make, or make known, medical decisions and do not have an advance directive, Thomasville
Medical Center will get consent from the patient's spouse, parents, guardian, nearest
relative or other person authorized to speak for the patient.
What is a Living Will?
In North Carolina, a living will is a document that tells others that you want to
die a natural death if you are terminally and/or incurably sick or in a persistent
vegetative state from which you will not recover. In a living will, you can direct
your doctor not to use extraordinary means that would delay your dying; for example:
by using a breathing machine (respirator or ventilator) or to stop such treatments
if they have been started. You can also direct your doctor not to begin or to stop
giving you food and water through a tube (artificial nutrition or hydration).
What is Healthcare Power of Attorney?
In North Carolina, you can name a person to make medical care decisions for you,
including mental health treatment decisions, if you later become unable to decide
yourself. This person is called your healthcare agent or power of attorney. In the legal document you
name who you want your agent to be. You can say what medical treatments you would
want and what you would not want. Your agent then knows what choices you would make.
For More Information
Your healthcare provider can tell you how to get more information about an advance
directive or you can call Thomasville Medical Center chaplain's office at 336-476-2499.