 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Annette,
Battle Creek
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
The information contained in this newsletter is not intended to replace the advice of your healthcare provider.
If you
have any questions about managing your health and/or seeking medical care, please contact a medical
professional. |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
May/June 2007 - Your Life on Your Terms:
Advance Directives Let You Plan Ahead
|
Someday you may become
too sick to make your
own decisions about your
medical care.
If that happens, then
decisions will have to be
made for you. If you have
not given any instructions,
no one will know what you
would have decided.
An advance directive is
your life on your terms.
Whether you're 18 or 80,
documenting your wishes
today - and encouraging
other family members to
also do so - means your
family won't have to make
heart-wrenching decisions
later.
An advance directive tells
your doctor what kind of
care you would like to have
if you become unable to
make medical decisions
- if you are in a coma, for
example.
If you are admitted to a
hospital, the medical staff
will probably talk to you
about advance directives.
A good advance directive
describes the kind of
treatment you would want
depending on how sick you
are.
Advance directives usually
tell your doctor that you
don't want certain kinds
of treatment. However,
they can also say that you
want a certain
treatment no
matter how ill you
are.
Advance
directives can
take many form,
and the laws
governing them
are different in
each state. You
should make
yourself aware of
the laws in the particular
state in which you live.
A living will is a written, legal document that describes the kind of medical
treatments or life-sustaining
treatments you would want if you
were seriously or terminally ill.
A living will doesn't let you select
someone to make decisions for you. |
A DPA identifies the person you
have chosen to make health care
decisions for you. It becomes active
any time you are unconscious or
unable to make medical decisions.
A DPA is generally more useful than
a living will. But a DPA may not be
a good choice if you don't have
another person you trust to make
these decisions for you. |
| Living wills and DPAs are legal in most states. Even if they aren't officially recognized by the law in your state, they can still guide your loved ones and doctor if you are unable to make decisions about your medical care. |
Creating an advance directive will
spare your loved ones the stress of
making decisions about your care
while you are sick.
For example, someone with
terminal cancer might write that
she does not want to be put on a
respirator if she stops breathing.
This action can reduce her
suffering, increase her peace of
mind and increase her control over
her own death.
Even if you are currently in good
health, you might want to consider
writing an advance directive. An
accident or serious illness can
happen suddenly, and if you already
have a signed advance directive,
your wishes are more likely to be
followed.
| A good place to start is www.caringinfo.org, a website that provides free advance directive documents and instructions for each state. |
Anyone 18 years of age or older
can prepare an advance directive.
This can be done several ways:
- Use a form provided by your doctor.
- Write your wishes down by yourself.
- Call your local health department
or state department on aging to get
a form.
- Call a lawyer.
- Use a computer software package
for legal documents.
Advance directives and living wills
do not have to be complicated legal
documents. They can be short,
simple statements.
Remember, anything you write
by yourself or with a computer
software package should follow
your state laws.
You may also want to have what
you've written reviewed by your
doctor or a lawyer to make sure
your directives are understood
exactly as you intended.
When you are satisfied with your
directive, the orders should be
notarized if possible, and copies
should be given to your family and
your doctor.
You may change or cancel your
advance directive at any time,
as long as you are considered of
sound mind to do so - meaning you
are still able to think rationally and
communicate your wishes in a clear
manner.
Again, your changes must be made,
signed and notarized according to
the laws in your state. Make sure
that your doctor and any family
members who knew about your
directives are also aware that you
that you have changed them.
If you do not have time to put your
changes in writing, you can make
them known while you are in the
hospital. Tell your doctor and any
family or friends present exactly
what you want to happen.
Usually, wishes that are made in
person will be followed in place of
the ones made earlier in writing. Be
sure your instructions are clearly
understood by everyone you have
told.
|
|
|
|
