Definition of Advance medical directives
Advance medical directives: These directives
pertain to treatment preferences and the designation of a surrogate
decision-maker in the event that a person should become unable to
make medical
decisions on their own behalf. Advance directives generally fall into
three categories: living will, power of attorney and health care
proxy.
LIVING WILL: This is a written document that specifies
what types of medical treatment are desired. A living will can be
very specific or very general.
The most common statement in a living
will is to the effect that: If I suffer an incurable, irreversible
illness, disease, or condition and my attending physician determines
that my condition is terminal, I direct that life-sustaining measures
that would serve only to prolong my dying be withheld or
discontinued.
More specific living wills may include information regarding an
individual's desire for such services such as analgesia (pain
relief), antibiotics, hydration, feeding, and the use of ventilators
or cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
HEALTH CARE PROXY: This is a legal document in which an
individual designates another person to make health care decisions if
he or she is rendered incapable of making their wishes known. The
health care proxy has, in essence, the same rights to request or
refuse treatment that the individual would have if capable of making
and communicating decisions.
DURABLE POWER OF ATTORNEY: This is the third type of
advance directive. Individuals may draft legal documents providing
power of attorney to others in the case of incapacitating medical
condition. The durable power of attorney allows an individual to
make bank transactions, sign Social Security checks, apply for
disability, or simply write checks to pay the utility bill while an
individual is medically incapacitated.
Last Editorial Review: 10/17/2004
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