ADVANCE DIRECTIVES A Simple and Smart Way to Take Charge of Your Care
One of the most important decisions you can make about your care is to fill out advance directives in case you can no longer speak for yourself. Advance directives are legal documents that let others know your wishes about the type of care you want. And they will only be used if you become unconscious or too ill to communicate yourself. Directives can include:
End of Life Care This set of instructions explains the type of life-prolonging medical care you wish to accept or refuse. It can include your wishes about the use of CPR if your heart stops, a ventilator if you stop breathing, or feeding tubes or IVs if you cannot eat or drink.
Durable Medical Power of Attorney For healthcare: This is a legal document that names your healthcare proxy—someone who can make medical decisions for you if you’re unable to do so. An official
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healthcare proxy can represent your wishes on emergency care but also on other medical issues like potential treatment options, blood transfusions, kidney dialysis, etc. Choose someone you trust, discuss your medical wishes, and make sure the person agrees to represent you in this role.
Healthcare Surrogate A person (agent) is appointed to make medical decisions on your behalf if you are unable to do so. The person is sometimes chosen by the patient, or, depending on state regulations, may be chosen by the patient’s doctor in certain circumstances.
If you are choosing your own healthcare surrogate, choose someone you know well and trust to represent your preferences. Be sure to discuss this with the person before naming him or her as your agent.
Fill Out Your Forms
Make sure you submit advance directives each time you go to the hospital, so your most current information and wishes are on file. You do not need a lawyer to fill these out. For more information and to obtain the forms you need, contact your nurse.
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