“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.

Wisconsin Forms

Wisconsin’s Power of Attorney for Health Care statute allows you to appoint an agent (called an “health care agent”) to make healthcare decisions for you if you become incompetent to make those decisions yourself. “Health care” may include mental health care.  You must use the state’s standard form, available with instructions here.  Further information is available from the Disability Rights Wisconsin (formerly the Wisconsin Coalition for Advocacy): click here for contact information.