“This time, with a PAD, I did not receive any treatments that I did not want. They were very respectful. I really felt like the hospital took better care of me because I had my PAD. In fact, I think it’s the best care that I’ve ever received.” Read More PAD Stories...

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.

New York Mental Health Resources

New York Health Care Agents and Proxies statute link – click to see the statute as it appears on the New York State Legislature website. 
Note: Once you follow the link, enter “Article 29-C” in the search box and select “Public Health Law Article 29-C” from the results to view the legislation. 

New York Health Care Agents and Proxies statute as a pdfPDF

New York Advance Directive/Health Care Proxy form and instructionsPDF

Planning For Your Mental And Physical Health Care And TreatmentPDF

The Health Care Proxy Law: A Guidebook for Health Care Professionals 

Although New York does not currently have a specific statute for a psychiatric advance directive, you can learn more about general advance directives for health care in New York 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.