Pursuant to a new law enacted in the closing days of 2018, beginning March 28, 2019, we will be able to make our wishes known in advance on the subject of being prescribed or administered opioids.

• A nonopioid directive form, when included in an individual’s medical record or presented to health care professionals, facilities or medical first responders, would instruct them to neither offer to prescribe nor administer an opioid.
• The revocable directive may be executed by an individual on his or her own behalf or by a guardian or patient advocate acting on behalf of an individual.
• Irrespective of the directive, opioids may still be administered if there is an emergency and the administration of an opioid is deemed to be medically necessary for treatment by a health care professional or medical first responder. The individual must then be informed that an opioid was administered and be provided with information on substance use services.
• Health care facilities, professionals and emergency medical services personnel may not be held civilly or criminally liable, or subject to professional disciplinary action, for failing to administer or prescribe an opioid or for the inadvertent administration of an opioid if acting reasonably and in good faith.

The nonopioid directive form, as well as instructions and rules for implementation, will be developed by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and made available on the department’s website. (Note that as of this writing the form is not yet available.)

If you have questions or concerns about this new directive, do not hesitate to call our office at (248) 477-6300.