What is a health care directive, and do I need one in addition to a living will?
A. The health care directive is a documents, authorized by the laws of most states, that allows a person or persons or your choosing to make your medical decisions for you if you cannot. It covers decisions on issues that may arise before you are terminally ill – such as operations, transfusions, nursing care, various treatments, and tube feeding. You should probably have a health care directive in addition to a living will (although in some states, like California, the two may be combined into one advance healthcare directive document). It is important that you periodically review your living will and power of attorney for health care to be sure they still comply with your state’s laws and have not expired.
