What is an Advance Directive?
An advance directive tells your doctor what kind of care you would like to have if you become unable to make medical decisions (if you are in a coma, for example). If you are admitted to the hospital, the hospital staff will probably talk to you about advance directives. A good advance directive describes the kind of treatment you would want depending on how sick you are. For example, the directives would describe what kind of care you want if you have an illness that you are unlikely to recover from, or if you are permanently unconscious. Advance directives usually tell your doctor that you don’t want certain kinds of treatment. However, they can also say that you want a certain treatment no matter how ill you are. Advance directives can take many forms. Laws about advance directives are different in each state. You should be aware of the laws in your state.
An advance directive is a written document, signed by an individual and two witnesses, that outlines the individual’s wishes for medical treatment in the future when he or she no longer can (or wishes to) make decisions about what to do. It is what many people think of as a “living will,” or a “durable power of attorney for healthcare.
If you are physically and mentally able, it is up to you to make all of your health care decisions. However, if you are unable (or unwilling) to make decisions, you can use an advance directive to help. An advance directive is a legal document that allows you to appoint someone to work with your doctors and others to help make sure your wishes about your health care decisions are honored. It also allows you to tell others how you want to receive your health care when you are too sick to talk. It is used to make sure that your health care wishes are known and respected. There are many forms you can use or you can write your own. You can complete an advance directive any way you wish. There are two parts to an advance directive: First, you may appoint another person to be your health care “agent.” This person is also often referred to as your “surrogate” decision maker. This person will have legal authority to make decisions about your medical care if you become unable to make these deci
