Mayo Clinic: Advance Directives and Living Wills

December 1, 2008 by blackgirlgrown
Filed under aging parents

The issues surrounding serious illness and death aren’t easy to discuss. But it’s far easier on everyone if you have a living will and other advance directives in place before you’re faced with a serious accident or illness. If you don’t, you may find yourself in a situation in which you’re unable to communicate your wishes regarding the extent of treatment efforts, such as resuscitation and life-support machines.

Living wills and other advance directives aren’t just for the elderly. Unexpected end-of-life situations can happen at any age, so it’s important for all adults to have advance directives.

Living wills are just one part of advance directives — forms that tell your doctor what kind of care you’d like to have if you become unable to make medical decisions. Learn more about living wills and other advance directives, how to create them, and how valuable advance directives can be to both you and your family.

Advance directives: More than just living wills

Advance directives are written instructions regarding your medical care preferences. Your family and medical professionals will consult these instructions if you’re unable to make your own health care decisions. Anyone age 18 or older may prepare an advance directive.

Advance directives can include:

Living will. This written, legal document spells out the types of medical treatments and life-sustaining measures you do and don’t want, such as mechanical breathing (respiration and ventilation), tube feeding, resuscitation. In some states the living will may be known by a different name, such as health care declaration or health care directive.
Medical power of attorney (POA). This is also called a durable power of attorney for health care or a health care agent or proxy. The medical POA form is a legal document that designates an individual to make medical decisions on your behalf in the event you’re unable to do so. These forms allow your health care agent or proxy to use a living will as a guide, but interpret your wishes when unexpected developments aren’t specifically addressed by your living will. The medical POA document is different from the power of attorney form that authorizes someone to make financial transactions for you. If you don’t appoint a medical POA, the decisions about your care default to your spouse. If you aren’t legally married, decisions fall to your adult children or your parents.
Do not resuscitate order (DNR). This is a request to not have cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) if your heart stops or if you stop breathing. A DNR order can be put in your medical chart by your doctor.