What are Your Advance Directives?
What Are Advance Directives? A living will, healthcare proxy and durable power of attorney—are the legal documents that allow you to give direction to medical personnel, family and friends concerning your future care when you cannot speak for yourself. You do not need a lawyer in order to complete Advance Directives.
Patient Services Advance Directives You have the right to make decisions about your
own medical treatment. Tese decisions become more difficult if, due to illness or a change in mental condi- tion, you are unable to tell your doctor and loved ones what kind of healthcare treatments you want. Tat is why it is important for you to make your wishes known in advance. Here is a brief description of each kind of Directive:
Directive to Physicians and Family or Surrogates– Texas Advance Directives Act A Directive to Physicians and Family or Surrogates allows you to tell your physician whether or not to use artificial methods to prolong the process of dying if you are terminally or irreversibly ill. A Directive does not become effective until you have been certified in writing as having a terminal or irreversible condition by your attending physician. If you sign a Directive, talk it over with your
physician and ask that it be made part of your medical record. If for some reason you become unable to sign a written Directive, you can issue a Directive verbally or by other means of nonwritten communication, in the presence of your physician and certain witnesses.
Surrogate Decision Maker A person (agent) you appoint to make your medical decisions if you are unable to do so. Choose someone you know well and trust to represent you preferences. Be sure to discuss this with the person before naming him or her as your agent. Remember that an agent may have to use his or her judgment in the event of a medical decision for which your wishes aren’t known.
Medical Power of Attorney A legal document that names your healthcare agent. Once written, it should be signed, dated, witnessed, notarized, copied, and put into your medical record. Te Medical Power of Attorney is a document
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