Advance Directives
Spell Out Your Wishes
Why You Should Plan Now For Your Future Medical Care

The three most important things about advance directives are control, control and control. The ability to determine your future is what you gain if you plan ahead and protect yourself with these documents. Advance directives allow you to spell out your wishes for medical care if you can't communicate them yourself – for instance, if you are ill or permanently unconscious.

Ask yourself: In this circumstance, are there certain treatments I would rather not be subjected to? Conversely, are there certain treatments I would absolutely want? With advance directives, you have a voice. Admittedly, anticipating – and planning for – such a grave situation can be emotionally difficult. But in a crisis, your desires will be clear and your family will be spared the extra stress of making potentially wrenching decisions without guidance.

So read on. Waiting for you are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about advance directives.

Q: In plain English, what's the best definition of an advance directive?

A: Again, an advance directive is a document that allows you to clearly convey your wishes for medical care if you are too ill to express them. The two most common types of advance directives are a living will and a durable power of attorney for health care. Sometimes these two advance directives are combined into a single document.

Q: Can you tell me more about a living will?

A: A living will gives written instructions about medical care used to prolong life. It goes into effect only if you are near death and can't make decisions for yourself or you are permanently unconscious. In it, you can specify those treatments you would like to accept or reject. For example, you can make your wishes known regarding feeding tubes, artificial breathing, pain control and organ donation. You can also indicate whether or not you want health care professionals to try to revive you with CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) if your heart stops beating or you stop breathing.

Q: Can you describe a durable power of attorney for health care?

A: With this document, you can name a person you trust – or a "proxy" – to make medical
decisions on your behalf if you can't make them yourself. Typically, your proxy can make medical decisions for you anytime you lose the ability to make decisions yourself--for example, if you have advanced Alzheimer's disease. In other words, unlike a living will, a durable power
of attorney for health care can generally go into effect even if you are not terminally ill or permanently unconscious.

Q: Do I really need both advance directives?

A: Ideally, yes. A living will permits you to explain specific wishes in writing. However, if you have a durable power of attorney, your agent can make decisions on your behalf in situations you may not have been able to anticipate.

Q: How do I get started?

A: Talking to your doctor can help you understand the types of medical treatments you need to consider. It is also important to share your thoughts and wishes with your family. And when you select a proxy, make sure the person you choose fully understands your wishes and is comfortable honoring them.

Q: How do I prepare the actual documents?

A: You have several options. You can find advance directive documents on the Saint Alphonsus website at www.saintalphonsus.org. Click on "Patient and Visitor Information," then "Advance Directives." You can also consult a lawyer. When you're satisfied with your directives, it's prudent to have them notarized. Give copies to your doctor, proxy and family members.

Source: Lois Snyder, J.D., director of the Center for Ethics and Professionalism, American College of Physicians

.....Back