An advance health care directive is a legal document in which you say that you want to receive medical treatment at some point in the future, if you are unable to speak or make decisions for yourself. Other names for this are advance directives , the Directive on health care and medical directive. It consists of three parts: the living will and the power and the form of Do Not Resuscitate (DEN ) .
The living will is part of all documents to inform your doctor and family members the type of care you want when the end of life approaches and can not speak for yourself. Is prepared in advance of circumstances requiring its use and not intended to replace your wishes .
Therefore, consciously set their desires always prevail over what is in the document if the two disagree .
A living will can specify the source and / or discontinuation. It may be general or specific . A general usually include language directing the suspension or termination of any treatment except for comfort, if you have a terminal illness. Specific instructions apply to the suspension or withdrawal of specific forms of treatment. These could include things like artificial feeding , intravenous fluids or intravenous antibiotics .
A medical power is part of the Directive on health care allows you to appoint someone to act on your behalf to direct your medical treatment if you can not speak for yourself or make decisions. The health care power of attorney is effective upon your doctor decides you are no longer able to understand the nature and consequences of their decisions about treatment.
The duration of the designated person to make these decisions is health care agent (proxy) . It is most often a family member or a close friend who understands your wishes for treatment. The agent can not be a doctor or other provider of health care involved in treatment if .
With the exception of state restrictions or limitations set by you in the power of attorney , health care proxy shall take all decisions about your treatment once the medical power of attorney becomes effective. Therefore , it is very important that the proxy has a good understanding of your wishes.
The document is official and legal, must complete and sign the medical power of attorney. Your health care agent must also sign the form. You can revoke the document at any time.
The form does not resuscitate (DEN ) is the part of the advance directive for health care allows you to train health personnel not to attempt to revive you if you stop breathing or your heart stops beating. Unless the form is visible and personal physician will assume that you authorize attempts to revive you. These efforts could include the introduction of a tube into the trachea , chest compressions and use of electrical energy to power his heart.
The DEN form is particularly useful outside of , for example, in hospital situations where paramedics were called to a home. In this context it is important to be visible on the screen where the crew in an emergency you can see . Otherwise, they will attempt resuscitation if it seems appropriate.
Medical advances Directives Forms can be obtained from a number of sources, including medical offices , hospitals , lawyers , social workers and offices. You can also write your own here . Because states regulate advance directives each state has its own official life will , medical power of DEN forms. Therefore, it is probably best to use the official forms for your state in order to be fully compatible with the laws of the state.
Victor E. Battles, MD is board certified with over 30 years of contact with the patient consulting internist . Was principal investigator on several clinical research studies and is the founder of Preheat Insight.
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