What is an Advanced Directive?

An Advanced Directive is a document that provides a person the opportunity to give directions about future medical care. It can also serve as a legal document designating another individual (proxy or health agent) to make decisions for you if you are unable to make those decisions yourself. This document will express your wishes if you become incapacitated. It covers your specific preferences for the kind of medical treatment you want or don’t want. It contains how you want people to treat you, and what you want your loved ones to know.

Types of Advanced Directives:

A Medical Power of Attorney for Health Care allows you to name an individual to make health care decisions when you are not able to do so. This person may also be referred to as a proxy or health care agent. There is another type of advanced directive called a “living will.” A living will specifies whether you would like to be kept on artificial life support if you become permanently unconscious or dying and unable to speak for yourself.

Lastly, there is another directive called a Do Not Resuscitate or DNR order. It is a written order from a doctor or expressed in a living will that resuscitation should not be attempted if a person suffers a cardiac or respiratory arrest. A DNR is commonly done when a person who has an inevitably fatal illness wishes to have a more natural death without painful or invasive medical procedures that will not reverse the outcome of the terminal illness.

NOTE: An Advanced Directive is not necessary for AIM Palliative Home Health. Although suggested, an Advanced Directive is not necessary for palliative services through St. Joseph Hospice.

Information on 5 Wishes