Advance Directives

In today’s healthcare world it is extremely important to allow for each and every individual to be an integral part of their own care and direct it in the route that result in the most good without causing harm.  With advance directives for medical care, this can happen.  It is a duty of the healthcare industry as a whole to present ways that protect individuals from making harmful decisions when their mind becomes impaired, or they are deemed incompetent and are unable to make their own decisions.  This brings us to the question, “What kind of medical care would you want if you were too ill or hurt to express your wishes?” 

Advance directives are legal documents that allow you to make your own decisions regarding end-of-life care ahead of time, should the time come that you are no longer competent or become a part of a critical health situation.  These documents give you a way to express your healthcare wishes to your family, friends, and medical professionals in the event that you become unable to direct your own health care and what life-sustaining or life-saving measures are used.  Advance directives will help to avoid unwanted conflict between families and friends, while also avoiding any confusion of care decisions if they are made ahead of time while you are in your right mind.  In addition, you will be at ease knowing that your healthcare wishes are in writing so that you will not have to worry about placing the burden on a loved one to make huge and tough decisions to direct your care to save or prolong your life if you become ill or injured.  Any individual over the age of 18 can prepare an advance directive.

Types of Advance Directives

·         Living Will

- Allows a competent adult to direct health care wishes if he/she were to become incompetent, such as if you were to become critically ill or unconscious.

-  This will includes whether or not you want any unusual medical procedures or lifesaving equipment used to prolong your life.

-  A good idea when creating a living will is to include instructions on the following if you were to become incompetent:

o   Use of dialysis and/or breathing machines

o   If you want all measures done for you if your breathing or heartbeat ceases

o   Tube feeding

o   Organ or tissue donation

·         Durable Power of Attorney

-  Often used in conjunction with the living will.

-  May also be referred to as a “medical power of attorney.”

  Allows you, as a competent adult, to appoint a specific person to authorize care decisions for you if you were to become incompetent.

-  Usually this will not be in effect until you are no longer competent.

·         Do Not Resuscitate (DNR)

-  This is a request not to have CPR if your heart stops beating or if you stop breathing.

-  Your provider will have to sign your DNR order and place it in your medical chart to make it official and this order will be followed by all other medical professionals.

Living wills and durable power of attorneys are legal in most states; your provider will introduce you to your options and allow you to choose what is best for you according to your health wishes and the legalities of the state in which you reside.  As far as DNR orders go, providers and hospitals in all states accept these orders. 

If you are in medical care and do not have a DNR order, such as in an emergency, you will be considered a full-code, which means that all measures will be carried out in order to save your life if you cannot deny them otherwise.  Remember also that you can change or cancel your advance directive at any time as long as you are able to think rationally enough to do so.  These changes to your advance directives will only take affect once they are signed and notarized according to the laws in your state. 

Other Important Legal Information

·         Nurses must follow your advance directive requirements unless there is a court order stating otherwise.

·         Consent is not required if a procedure is necessary to save a life during an emergency.

·         Competent individuals may decline to give consent for a procedure…even if there will be serious health consequences.

·         If a family member were to challenge the advance directive you have put into place for your medical care, there will need to be legal proof from the court system that the advance directive can be overturned and replaced with their wishes for your care.

Total Home Health knows that the process of figuring out advance directive options can be overwhelming and emotionally draining.  Our professionals are trained in this area and will provide you with all the information you need to be completely informed in order for you to make the best decision for your care now, and in the future.  We never know what may happen five minutes from now, let alone a year or two from now…so it’s a good idea to get your measures in writing now in order to be prepared and receive the care you desire in the future!  Enroll today with Total Home Health and we’ll work together to get your advance directives in writing so you’ll have one less thing to worry about!