Types of Advance Directives

.As a patient, you have the right to make your own health care decisions. Here, in summary form, are some of the most commonly asked questions regarding advance directives that can help when making  healthcare decisions:

Question: Who has the right to make your health care decisions?

Answer: You do, if you are capable of making and  communicating your health care decisions. Your doctors should tell you about the treatment they recommend, important medical risks and benefits of the treatment, and other treatment options. You decide what health care, if any, you will or will not accept.

Question: What if I become unable to make or communicate my health care decisions?

Answer: There may come a time when your doctor determines that you are unable to make or communicate your health care decisions. You can still have control over these decisions if you have signed a health care directive, such as a Health Care Power of Attorney, a Living Will or a Mental Health Care Power of Attorney.

Question: What is a Health Care Power of Attorney?

Answer: The Health Care Power of Attorney is a written statement in which you name another person, called an agent, to make health care decisions for you in the event you are unable to make these decisions. Discuss your preferences so they can make future decisions for you knowing your specific wishes.

Question: What if you do not have Health Care Power of Attorney?

Answer: Your health care providers will attempt to identify a surrogate decision maker for you. A surrogate is someone who would “step into your shoes” and make decisions for you based on your known wishes Surrogates can be spouses, adult children, a parent,  a domestic partner, an adult sibling or adult close friend.

Question: What about making decisions about feeding tubes and IVs?

Answer: Only an agent you have appointed under a Health Care Power of Attorney or your court-appointed guardian can make decisions to withdraw the artificial administration of food and fluids given through tubes and IVs.

Question: What is a Living Will?

Answer: A Living Will is a written statement describing the kind of health care that you want or don’t want if you cannot make your own health care decisions. It can either provide guidance or give specific instructions about your wishes. Regardless of whether you have someone with Health Care Power of Attorney or rely on a surrogate, you should consider preparing a Living Will document to provide them assistance.

Question: What does a Living Will do?

Answer: A Living Will may direct doctors to withhold, withdraw or continue life-sustaining procedures. For example, a Living Will can tell your doctors whether you want to be fed or given fluids through tubes if you cannot your values or what is in your best interest.

Question: What is Mental Health Care Power of Attorney?

Answer: The Mental Health Care Power of Attorney is a written statement in which you name another person to make mental health decisions for you should a psychiatrist or psychologist determine that you are unable to make these decisions.