What is an Advance Directive?
In the state of Texas, an advance directive is composed of four documents. First, a Directive to the Physician states what life sustaining health care treatment you would desire if you had a terminal condition and were unable to physically or mentally make a medical decision. Second, the Medical Power of Attorney names one or more persons who will be legally able to make your health care decisions in the event that you are physically or mentally unable to communicate. The third document is an Out-of-Hospital “Do Not Resuscitate” (DNR) Order. A DNR is appropriate for any person who does not wish to undergo life sustaining treatment deemed medically inappropriate in the event of cardiac or respiratory arrest which permits (i) you to refuse emergency treatment in the event that you have a terminal condition AND ambulance or emergency medical services are called or (ii) you are rushed into an emergency room AND you are mentally and physically unable to make or communicate your own choices
An Advance Directive is a type of written or verbal instruction about health care to be followed if a person becomes unable to make decisions regarding his or her medical treatment. Because you prepare an Advance Directive when you are competent, it will be followed during periods of time when you lack capacity to make medical treatment decisions. There are several different types of Advance Directives, including a health care proxy, a living will, and a do not resuscitate (DNR) order. Each one of these is described in these FAQs.
An advance directive is a written instruction that you make while you are mentally competent. The advance directive states how you want health care decisions to be made for you if you become incapacitated. Wisconsin laws recognize two forms of advance directives: the living will and the health care power of attorney.
An advance directive is a legal document that allows you to participate in decisions about the type of medical treatment that you wish at a time in the future when you may be unable to make your wishes known because of your illness. There are four types of advance directives recognized in Texas: Directive to Physicians and Family, Medical Power of Attorney, Out of Hospital Do Not Resuscitate Order, and Declaration for Mental Health Treatment.
