Whats An Advance Directive?
An advance directive is a paper you fill out. You write in advance what you want done in case you have a serious injury or illness and aren’t able to speak for yourself then. You can use an advance directive in two ways. First, you can name a relative or friend you trust as your “agent” to make medical decisions for you if you can’t make them yourself. In California, this type of directive is called a DURABLE POWER OF ATTORNEY FOR HEALTH CARE. Second, you can write down when you would or wouldn’t want to be treated if you became very sick. And you can describe what kinds of treatment you would and wouldn’t want. People feel differently about how much treatment they want under different conditions. By filling out what is often called a “living will,” you can let your family, friends, and physicians know how you feel. The type of living will that is recognized by statute in California for patients who are terminally ill or permanently unconscious is called a NATURAL DEATH ACT DECLARATION
