What is an Advanced Health Directive?
An Advanced Health Directive is made up of a Living Will and a Medical Power of Attorney.
The following is taken from the LifeHappens.org website….
A living will: This legal document states your preferences regarding the type of medical care or treatment you want to receive (or don’t) in different scenarios if you are incapacitated and cannot communicate.
Medical power of attorney: Also known as a durable power of attorney for health care or a health care proxy, a medical power of attorney names another person, such as your spouse, daughter or son, to make medical decisions for you if you are no longer able to make medical decisions for yourself, or you are unable to communicate your preferences. Note that a medical power of attorney is not the same as a power of attorney, which gives another person the authority to act on your behalf on matters you specify, such as handling your financial affairs.
Important points to remember:
- Each state regulates advance directives differently. As a result, you may wish to involve an attorney in the preparation of your advance directive
- You can modify, update or cancel an advance directive at any time, in accordance with state law.
- If you spend a good deal of time in several states, you may want to have an advance directive for each state.
- Make sure that the person you name to act for you—your health care proxy—has current copies of your advance directive.
- Give a copy of your advance directive to your physician and, if appropriate, your long-term care facility.
Who should have them?
Every adult….What would happen if you suffered a catastrophic medical event, such as a stroke or an accident that leaves you unable to communicate. The only way you could communicate the type of care you receive—or don’t receive would be your advance health directive.
Every adult should plan ahead by completing an advance directive that specifies his or her personal preferences regarding what are acceptable and unacceptable medical treatments.
Why aren’t they honored between states?
According to the American Bar and CaringInfo.org, Advanced Health Directives are not portable between states.
America is a very mobile society. Not only do we move around a lot, many are willing to travel to get health care, especially for complex, specialty treatment. How well do our wishes travel with us across state lines and across health systems? The documentation of our health care wishes has come to be most associated with statutory advance directive documents, typically health care powers of attorney and living wills. These documents tend to be tethered to one’s state of residence, because the content and formalities of execution of the documents are defined and regulated by state law. These laws are as varied as the geography of the states.
Advance directive is the general term that refers to the various documents that could include a living will, instruction directive, health care proxy or health care power of attorney.
Some states combine the two forms so you can record your treatment preferences and name your health care advocate in one document. When you download your state’s form you’ll find what you need.When planning for your future medical care, prepare your advance directives to be sure your loved ones make health choices according to your wishes. Just select your state from the drop-down menu below and download the free advance directive forms for you to use. You’ll find instructions on how to fill out the forms.
