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A medical directive can be a living will or a durable power of attorney for health care (also called a health care proxy). These documents allow you to give directions about your future medical care.
Having an advance directive is good for everyone young or old, since accidents and illness can strike at any time. It's your right to accept or refuse medical care. Advance directives can protect this right if you become mentally or physically unable to choose or tell someone your wishes.
Before making an advance directive, think about what’s important to you. How would keeping or losing the ability to do things you value affect your choice of treatment? Find out about all the treatments open to you. Then you can decide the level of care that you would want. Advance directives can help you protect your right to make medical choices, help your family avoid the stress of making hard decisions and help your doctor by giving him guidelines for your care.
Once you know what level of medical care you want, you can protect your wishes by putting them in writing. With an advanced directive, you can name someone else to make medical choices for you (durable power of attorney for health care) or you can state the treatments you'd choose or not choose (living will).
Advance directives can limit life-prolonging measures when there is little or no chance of recovery. You may decide not to be put in the hospital if you are terminally ill or permanently unconscious. You may decide against any treatments that will not cure you.
Advance directives can help you make known your feelings about:
- Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) - When the heart stops (cardiac arrest), doctors and nurses use special measures to try to restart the heart. This may include massaging the heart, giving medicine or using electrical shock.
- Intravenous (IV) therapy - Can be used to provide food, water and/or medicine through a tube placed in the vein.
- Feeding tubes - If you are no longer able to swallow food, your doctor may have you tube fed through your nose, your abdomen or intravenously (through the vein).
- Ventilators (artificial breathing) - Ventilators are machines that breathe for you. In your Living Will, you can make it clear whether you want this kind of help or not.
Living Will
A living will explains your wishes in writing about your health care if you have a terminal condition. These documents are called "living" wills because they take effect while a patient is still alive.
Durable Power of Attorney
In writing, you can name a person (called a proxy) to make decisions for you if you become unconscious or mentally unable to decide.
How Do I Create Advance Directives?
Check the laws in your state regarding living wills and durable power of attorney documents for health care. Put your wishes in writing, and be as specific as you can be. You can complete and sign these forms. Sign and date your advance directive. You must have two adults, other than your health care worker, witness and sign the form before it is legal.
What do I do with my living will and health care power of attorney?
Keep a card in your wallet stating that you have advance directives and where to find them. Give your doctor a copy to be kept as part of your medical records. If you use a durable power of attorney for health care, be sure to give a copy to the person who will be making decisions for you. Talk about your advanced directives with your family and friends. Give copies to a relative or friend who might be called in an emergency.
Review your advanced directives regularly and make changes as needed. Tell your doctor, family and friends about any changes you make.
Questions and Answers About Advance Directives
Who is qualified to make an advance directive?
- A patient who can make decisions and understand the impact of that decision on treatment
- An adult age 18 or older
- An emancipated minor
An advance directive will be honored if:
- The patient is 18 years of age or older
- The patient has declared his wishes or appointed a health care proxy
- A doctor has diagnosed a terminal condition or a permanently unconscious state
What if I change my mind?
You can change or cancel your advance directive at any time. Make sure you tell your doctors, health care workers, hospital and friends that your wishes have changed. Ask them to tear up and destroy old copies.
What can be done if my wishes are not being carried out?
You should talk with your doctor first. If it is not resolved at this point, talk with the nurse, social workers and/or chaplain.
Your living will and health care power of attorney involve some of life's most important choices. Don't put off asking for help. Talk to your doctor about any questions or ask him to refer you to someone who is qualified to help.
For more information
Please contact:
Partnerships for Caring
200 Varick Street, 10th Floor
New York, NY 10014
1-800-989-WILL (9455)
http:\\www.partnershipforcaring.org
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