• The Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care
• The Living Will
• Treatment Preferences Document
• Making an Advance Directive
• Common Questions and Answers

Three different kinds of advance directives are: The Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care, the Living Will, and a Treatment Preferences Document.

* Gives your Agent legal authority to make health care decisions for you when you are unable to make them.

* Allows the hospital to give your Agent information from your medical record to help make health care decisions.

* Instructs your Agent to follow your wishes.

* Applies to your health care, not your financial or business affairs.

• This is not legally binding but is very helpful to your doctor and Health Care Agent.
• Applies only if you are terminally ill, with no hope of recovery.
• States that you do not wish to have treatment that would artificially prolong your life.
• States that you wish to be allowed to die naturally and be given only that treatment needed to make you comfortable.
• Allows you to add any preferences or details about treatment.
• Is particularly helpful for patients who do not have someone to name as a Health Care Agent.
  
  

If you have personal or religious beliefs that should affect your care, consider a treatment preferences document.

• Lists any specific instructions about treatment.
• Describes situations in which you may state your desire to have different treatments.
  

You do not need a lawyer to make an advance directive. However, many lawyers will include these in your estate plans.

• Talk with your family, friends, clergy and health care providers about the possible outcomes of different kinds of treatments you might wish to receive.
• Think about what is important in your life.
• Go through the Advance Directive forms. Make sure that you understand the wording.
• You should tell the Agent where your written instructions are located.
• You should give a copy to your Agent, your doctor, your attorney, and your hospital.
• You should try to name an alternate Agent.

* Should be someone you know and trust.

* Often is a family member, friend, or member of the clergy.

* Should be someone who knows your
preferences and values.

* Two competent adults, 18 years or older. These persons should not be your doctor or nurse, a family member, or someone with whom you have a financial tie.

* You can always change your Advance Directive.

* It is best to put changes in writing and cross out old information or destroy old documents.

* If you do not talk to your Agent about your wishes, s/he will "guess" correctly about two-thirds of the time. Therefore, make sure you always discuss changes.

* Trying a treatment for a limited time is common. Within a few days the chances for your getting better usually becomes clear.

* Doctors would use a treatment as long as there seemed to be a reasonable hope for improvement.

* A Living Will is for health decisions when you are terminally ill and unable to communicate. Examples: if you were in a coma or had end-stage cancer.

* Regular wills (Estate Wills) are for personal possessions and finances, and only go into effect after you have died.

* Most forms do require two people to witness.

* If you need to have a form NOTARIZED, you can usually find a notary public at your bank or in the yellow pages.

* Living wills can guide doctors and nurses toward the kind of treatments you would or would not want.

* Prepare your Advance Directive before you become seriously ill.

* Have your family take part, if possible.

* Name as a Health Care Agent someone you can trust to carry out your wishes. It does not have to be a family member.

* An Advance Directive does not mean you will be abandoned. It ensures that you get the care you want by appointing someone to advocate for you.

* You can change your Advance Directive or destroy them if you change your mind.

Of course, what a group favors will not predict what an individual like you may want. You need to make your own decisions and make sure that you discuss your decisions with your doctor and your health care agent.

When preparing an advance care plan, you should think about how you would like your long term care needs to be met.

When preparing an advance care plan, you should think about how these needs would be met if you became seriously ill.

                                    "Typical" Choices for No Treatment*
                        When a Person Is Unable to Speak for Him/Herself

*It is usually easier for people to say what they don't want than what they might accept in these situations.
 

Click here for sample "Advanced Directive" forms.

Click here if you would like more information about managing serious illness and talking to loved ones about it.

We have tried to make the How's Your Health error-free. However, those involved in its preparation can not warrant that all of the information is accurate and complete. When you use How's Your Health as a guide for your health and medical care, be sure to discuss any questions about it with your doctor, nurse, or other health care worker.