“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.

Pennsylvania Mental Health Resources

Pennsylvania Mental Health Care statute link – click to see the state statute as it appears on the Pennsylvania General Assembly website.
Note: Once you follow the link, you will need to scroll down to Title 20, “Decedents, Estates and Fiduciaries”, and navigate to Chapter 58, “Mental Health Care”. 

Pennsylvania statute as a pdf

Mental Health Advance Directives for PennsylvaniansPDF
This booklet from the Disabilities Law Project explains what Advance Directives are for and how to fill them out. The forms are also included in the guide. 

Find more information about mental health advance directives at this website provided by the Disability Rights Network of Pennsylvania.

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.