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 It's
Your Choice
Advance
Directives
A time may come when you or a loved one
is seriously injured or becomes gravely ill. Although we
may prefer not to think about such a situation, we need
to be prepared for the difficult decisions
that may need to be made about the intensity of medical care or
whether life support should be continued or withdrawn.
The stress of the situation coupled with shock and grief
make it even harder to make such tough decisions. By
learning about the various options available, you can
ease the pain of such situations and ensure your wishes
are carried out. "Advance Directive" is a term that covers several
documents that lay out what kind of medical care you want. This can
include specifying what treatments you do or do not want in certain
cases or it can be naming a person to make health decisions for you if
you are unable to for yourself.
Preparing an Advance Directive
The best way to prepare
an Advance Directive is in the comfort of your home,
when you have time to think about and carefully consider
your choices. It is important that you discuss your
wishes with your family, friends and loved ones. A
lawyer may be helpful in assisting you to execute an
Advance Directive or you may link to the forms
from this page. Types of Advance Directives
Living Will: A Living Will, also called a
Directive to
Physicians, takes effect while you are still living and clearly outlines
your wishes regarding health care during a medical emergency if you are unable to speak for yourself.
It is important that you give a copy of your Living Will
to your physician to put in your medical file so that
your instructions can be understood and followed. It is
your responsibility to give a copy to all facilities
where you may receive health care. Also, let a family
member or close friend know where to find a copy if it
is needed.
A Living Will goes into effect from the date your
doctor receives a copy, determines you are unable to
make your own healthcare decisions and determines you
are terminally ill or have an irreversible condition.
The Living Will has limited use and only applies if you
have a terminal medical condition such that death is
expected soon. It can be changed or revoked at any time.
Medical Power of Attorney for Health Care: This
document allows you to appoint another person to make
decisions about your medical care when you are unable to
for yourself due to mental or physical reasons. The
person must be at least 18 years of age and should be
someone whom you know and trust. Make certain that
whomever you grant Medical Power of Attorney for Health
Care fully understands your desires and that they are
willing to follow your wishes. You may include specific
directions for your care in a Medical Power of Attorney
for Health Care just as you would in a living will.
Your representative has the
power to make a broad range of health care decisions for
you. They may consent, refuse to consent or withdraw
consent to medical treatment, which can include
life-support treatment. However, your representative may
not consent to voluntary inpatient mental health
services, convulsive treatment, psychosurgery or
abortion. Even after you have
signed the Medical Power of Attorney for Health Care,
you still have the right to make health care decisions
for yourself as long as you are able to do so. Treatment
cannot be given or stopped if you indicate an
objection. A Medical Power of Attorney for Health Care
can be changed or revoked at any time.
Out-of-Hospital Do-Not-Resuscitate Order:
There may come a time when, due to a terminal condition
or the possible consequences, you decide you want to die
a natural death without being revived. An Out-of-Hospital Do-Not-Resuscitate (DNR) order
is for the
purpose of instructing Emergency Medical Personnel and
other health care professionals to
forgo resuscitation attempts and to permit the patient
to have a natural death with peace and dignity. This
order does NOT affect the provision of other
emergency care including comfort care. It simply states
your wish to not have cardio-pulmonary resuscitation
(CPR), which generally consists of chest compressions,
artificial ventilation techniques, medication and
electrical shocks to the heart. An Out-of-Hospital DNR
order is valid in the Emergency Department, ambulance,
long-term care, and in the home. For a DNR while in
the hospital, please inform your healthcare personnel
upon admission. |
