The advance directive is a legal document of health care in which medical treatment they wish to receive sometime in the future, if you can not speak or can make informed decisions for yourself. Other names also have advance directive, health policy and medical directive. It consists of three parts: the living will, power of attorney and do not resuscitate form (DNR).
The living will is the part of a set of documents to let you know that your doctor and family members would like to receive the kind of care, as they near the end of life, and you can no longer speak for yourself. He prepared the conditions that require the use and does not override the express wishes.
Therefore, the conscious desires declared in all cases take precedence over what is in the document, if the two can not agree.
A living will may determine the withholding tax and / or withdraw treatment. This may be general or specific. A standard usually involves formulation that controls the retention or removal of any treatment other than convenience, if you have a terminal illness. More specific instructions of the withholding or withdrawal of the particular forms of treatment. They might like to artificial feeding, intravenous infusion or intravenous antibiotics.
A medical power of attorney, the part of the health policy that allows you to appoint someone to act on your behalf in the management of the treatment when you can not speak for yourself, or make the right decisions. The health care power of attorney takes effect if the doctor decides that you are not able to understand the nature and consequences of treatment decisions.
The term of the person who has those choices in health agent (proxy). This is most often a family member or close friend who understands fully the treatment you want. The proxy may not be a physician or other health care provider participates in spite of treatment.
Unless you are listed by the state limits the power of attorney form, the health care proxy makes all the decisions to take the treatment if the medical power of attorney takes effect. It is therefore very important that the representatives have a good understanding of your wishes.
In order to make the document official and legitimate, you must complete and sign a medical authorization form. The health agency also must sign the form below. You can withdraw the document at any time.
Non-resuscitate (DNR) form the part of the advance health care directive that allows you to instruct the medical staff do not try to revive if you stop breathing or your heart stops beating. Unless there is form, and you can see the medical staff will assume that you consent is trying to revive itself. These experiments may be the placement of a tube down the trachea, chest compressions and use of electric power to stimulate the heart.
The same can not resurrect a particularly valuable addition to the hospital, for example, in situations where the paramedics called home. In the environment, it is important to form a visible display, wherein the emergency personnel to see. Otherwise, you can try resuscitation if it seems also to be indicated.
Medical advance directive forms can be obtained from a number of sources, including medical offices, hospitals, lawyers, social workers and some post offices. You can also prepare your own. Since the states regulate their advance directives each state will have its own formal living, medical power of attorney forms and did not resurrect. Therefore, it is probably best to use official forms of the state in order to fully comply with the laws of each state.