Advance Health Care Directives
It was Abraham Lincoln who said “And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years.” Today’s medical technology has miraculous life saving potential, but as Lincoln’s quote would suggest, quality of life is an important factor to consider. Many of us have strong feelings about how much intervention we would prefer in a given situation.
If you were in a medical situation where you were unable to speak for yourself, would your loved ones know what to do? Would they know your wishes regarding life-sustaining treatments like respirators or feeding tubes? It is very important for all of us to have conversations with our loved ones about our wishes. But talking is not enough; putting your wishes in writing is the best way to ensure they will be carried out. The documents that allow you to do this are called advance health care directives. Below are some examples of these documents.
Living Will
The use of the term “will” in the title of this document can be confusing. A living will does not have any bearing on property or financial assets; it is merely a health care document. A living will allows you to express in writing the type of treatment approach you prefer in the event of a terminal illness. A living will is limited in that it does not allow you to name a person who can make decisions for you in case you are unable to make decisions for yourself. It does serve to give a frame of reference to your loved ones and the medical team members who participate in your care.
Power of Attorney for Health Care
A power of attorney for health care allows you to name an agent who makes health care decisions for you in the event you are unable to make them for yourself. In this document you give some general direction as to the level of intervention you might want in certain circumstances, such as coma or terminal illness.
Additionally, you add in specific things you know you want or don’t want such as feeding tubes and ventilator support. The power of attorney for health care is not related in any way to your financial or legal estate matters, it pertains only to health care decisions.
The Five Wishes is a unique health care directive document that was created by a not for profit organization called Aging with Dignity. Five Wishes meets the state criteria as a legal health care power of attorney in most but not all states. In it you express not only your wishes for the level of medical intervention you want and who will make decisions for you, but how comfortable you want to be, how you want people to treat you and what you want your loved ones to know. You can obtain copies of the Five Wishes document at www.agingwithdignity.org.
Do Not Resuscitate Order
Often called DNR, this gives medical personnel permission to withhold life saving measures like cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) if you stop breathing or your heart stops. A DNR order is written by your physician at your or your loved ones' request when you have decided you do not want further medical intervention.
State Requirements
The laws and requirements surrounding advance directives vary from state to state. Each state has a version of these documents that have been developed in accordance with their laws. You can get the forms from hospitals, your health care provider or on the internet at http://www.caringinfo.org/stateaddownload
If you choose to make out the forms, follow your states requirements for having them witnessed or notarized. Keep them in an accessible place (NOT a safe deposit box) and give copies to family and/or friends, your primary health care provider and any institutions involved in your care. Advance health care directives are effective from the date they are executed until you change them or cancel them.
The information published in this article is provided for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice.
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