vastrat.blogg.se - End of life decisions document

If your wishes in a certain situation are not known, your proxy or agent will make a decision based on what they think you would want. If you become unable to make your own health care decisions, your proxy or agent can speak with your health care team and other caregivers on your behalf and make decisions according to the wishes or directions you gave earlier. Before a medical power of attorney can be used to guide medical decisions, a person's physician must certify that the person is unable to make their own medical decisions. Durable power of attorney for health care/Medical power of attorneyĪ durable power of attorney for health care, also known as a medical power of attorney, is a legal document in which you name a person to be a proxy (agent) to make all your health care decisions if you become unable to do so. Also, check your state so you know if you have to renew your living will, and if so, how often you have to do it. If you spend most of your time in more than one state, be sure to speak to your health care provider and review each of the states’ laws. Be sure to know your specific state laws. Living will laws vary from state to state. You may end or take back a living will at any time.

It is just that the goal of treatment becomes comfort rather than cure. A person can still get treatments such as antibiotics, food, pain medicines, or other treatments. It is important to know that choosing not to have aggressive medical treatment is different from refusing all medical care.

If you want to donate your organs or other body tissues after death.

If you want treatment for pain, nausea, or other symptoms, even if you can't make other decisions (this may be called comfort care or palliative care).

If you want fluid or liquid (usually by IV) and/or food (tube feeding into your stomach) if you couldn't eat or drink.

Do not resuscitate orders (instructions not to use CPR if breathing or heartbeat stops).

If you want the use of equipment such as dialysis machines (kidney machines) or ventilators (breathing machines) to help keep you alive.

There are many things to think about when writing a living will. This applies to treatments including, but not limited to dialysis, tube feedings, or actual life support (such as the use of breathing machines).īefore your health care team uses your living will to guide medical decisions, 2 physicians must confirm that you are unable to make your own medical decisions and you are in a medical condition that is specified by your state law as terminal illness or permanent unconsciousness. It can describe under what conditions an attempt to prolong life should be started or stopped. The living will describes the type of medical treatment the person would want or not want to receive in these situations.

The living will is only used at the end of life if a person is terminally ill (can't be cured) or permanently unconscious. The living will is a legal document used to state certain future health care decisions only when a person becomes unable to make the decisions and choices on their own. Additionally, when you are ready to fill out your advance directive, your health care team might be able to help. You can usually get advance directive forms from your state bar association, or from Caring Con nection (part of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization). Tell them about your situation, wishes, and fears, because they are the ones who will help put your wishes into effect if you are unable to do so. Be sure to know specific requirements of writing legal advance directives in your state.īefore you create an advance directive, you will want to talk with your health care provider, your loved ones, and at least one person that you may want to choose as your proxy or agent (substitute decision-maker). All states and the District of Columbia have laws about advance directives. State laws and courts decide whether these documents are valid. Some follow forms outlined in state laws, others are created by lawyers or even the patients themselves. There are many advance directive formats.

The most common types of advance directives are the living will and the durable power of attorney for health care (sometimes known as the medical power of attorney).