About PADs
- A psychiatric advance directive (PAD) is a legal document that documents a person’s preferences for future mental health treatment, and allows appointment of a health proxy to interpret those preferences during a crisis.
- PADs may be drafted when a person is well enough to consider preferences for future mental health treatment.
- PADs are used when a person becomes unable to make decisions during a mental health crisis.
Alaska Mental Health Resources
Alaska Health Care Decisions Act statute link
Note: Once you follow the link, you will need to scroll down to Chapter 13.52 to see the act
Alaska Health Care Decisions Act as a pdf
Alaska Advance Health Care Directive form
Although Alaska does not currently have a specific statute for a psychiatric advance directive, you can learn more about general advance directives for health care in Alaska at the Caring Connections website.
If you know of any relevant current legislation, pending legislation, or general issues of interest relating to psychiatric advance directives in your state, click here to contact us.