What You Should Know

Important Documents

Advance Directives

An Advance Directive is a set of instructions, usually written, that allows you to specify the kind of treatment you would want if you are ill and unable to speak for yourself.  The Living Will and the Durable Healthcare Power of Attorney are advance directives and we suggest you have both.  With an advance directive, you can inform your doctor what your wishes are.  You may change your advance directives at any time.  Only you can change your advance directive.  Each state has its own laws about advance directives and you should be aware of the laws in your state.  Generally you can prepare advance directives in several ways:

Use computer software for legal documents

Download forms from web sites

Write your wishes clearly on paper

Obtain forms from the local health department or state department on aging

Utilize an attorney

Durable Healthcare Power of Attorney

A Durable Healthcare Power of Attorney is an advance directive that allows you to name an agent to speak for you in medical matters if you cannot speak for yourself either because of illness or an accident.  Your agent should know your wishes and agree to follow them.

Living Will

A Living Will is an advance directive that states your wishes for medical treatment, including artificial nutrition and hydration, when you are in imminent danger of dying.

Do Not Resuscitate Order

A Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Order is another kind of advance directive.  A DNR is a request not to have cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) if your heart stops or if you stop breathing.  (Unless given other instructions, hospital staff will try to help all patients whose hearts have stopped or who have stopped breathing).  You can use an advance directive form or tell your doctor that you don't want to be resuscitated.  In this case, a DNR order is put in your medical chart by your doctor.  DNR orders are accepted by doctors and hospitals in all states.