Have your wishes respected regarding your medical care

Advanced Medical Directive

Often called a living will, this document lays out your desires regarding your care in situations where you are unable to speak for yourself.

What Is an Advanced Medical Directive?

An Advanced Medical Directive is a legal document that explains how you want medical decisions about you to be made if you cannot make the decisions yourself. It lets your health care team and loved ones know what kind of health care you want. The Advanced Medical Directive also allows you to designated who you want to make decisions for you if you are unable to do so yourself.

Why should I have an Advanced Medical Directive?

It is helpful to write down your wishes for multiple reasons:

  • Clarity. It is usually a very stressful time for your loved ones if you are in a situation where significant medical decisions need to be made and you are unable to make them yourself. This document lays out exactly what you want.

  • Compassion. Even if your family thinks they know what you want, they might question themselves after making a hard decision if they do not know for certain.

  • Self Reflection. Preparing an advanced medical directive gives you the opportunity to consider what you would want in advance. This includes situations where recovery is unlikely, as well as what to do with your remains in the event of your passing.

Who can be a health care agent, and who can act as a witness?

To be a health care agent, someone has to be 18 or older, and cannot be affiliated with the facility where you are receiving care.

Two witnesses are needed. Generally, any competent adult can be a witness, including your doctor or other health care provider. If you name a health care agent, that person cannot be a witness for your advance directive. Also, one of the two witnesses must be someone who (i) will not receive money or property from your estate and (ii) is not the one you have named to handle your estate after your death.

 

Do doctors have to follow the guidance on the form?

You have the ability to make your instructions binding, or you can give your representative some flexibility to make a decision based on your guidance.

It can be a great comfort to a loved one to not have to make a difficult decision, so it might make sense to require the instructions are strictly followed. Alternatively, you might wish to give your loved ones some flexibility to make the decision depending on the circumstances.

To whom should I give copies of my Advanced Medical Directive?

It is highly recommended that you proactively present your Advanced Medical Directive to the doctor before any significant medical procedure. You should dive copies to your primary physician, your health care agent and backup agent(s), hospital or nursing home if you will be staying there, and family members or friends who should know of your wishes. You could consider carrying a card in your wallet saying you have an Advance Medical Directive and who to contact.

Let us start your Advanced Medical Directive!

Let us help you prepare for the unexpected!