“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.

West Virginia Mental Health Resources

West Virginia Health Care Decisions Act – click to see the statute as it appears on the West Virginia Legislature website.  

West Virginia Health Care Decisions Act as a pdfPDF

West Virginia Medical Power of Attorney formPDF

West Virginia Living Will formPDF

West Virginia Center for End-of-Life Care website

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