Navigating end-of-life decisions can be incredibly challenging, especially when it comes to understanding the distinctions between a "Do Not Resuscitate" (DNR) Order and an Advance Directive. What is a DNR? Emergency medical service professionals are required to administer life-sustaining treatments like CPR to patients. However, a do-not resuscitate order says that if your hearts stop… Continue reading DNR vs Advance Directive: Understanding End-of-Life Choices
Passed by the legislature in the spring, House Bill 2548 established Oklahoma's new Uniform Power of Attorney act and went into effect on November 1st under Title 58. This act, which provides for more uniform power of attorney documents from state-to-state, mostly focuses on the financial power of attorney. Unfortunately though, through some drafting oversight, the… Continue reading What are these new change to Oklahoma’s power of attorney laws?
In 2003, the United States Department of Health and Human Services enacted regulations under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, or as it is more commonly known, “HIPAA”. Under this new law, medical providers can face serious sanctions and monetary fines for releasing unauthorized “Protected Health Information,” usually meaning medical records. As a result, medical… Continue reading HIPAA Authorizations – Why They Are Important
