Advance Directives

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 convey your medical care preferences. They provide a way for you to communicate your wishes to family, friends and health care professionals, and to avoid confusion or disagreement if you’re unable to make your own health care decisions (if you are in a coma, for example).

Advance directives include:

• Living Will – A living will is a written, legal document that describes the types of medical treatments or life-sustaining treatments you would or would not want if you were to become seriously or terminally ill, such as tube feeding, mechanical breathing or kidney dialysis. A living will does not let you select someone to make decisions for you. It is called a “living will” because it takes effect while you are still living. In Washington and Idaho states, you do not need a lawyer to complete your living will.
• Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care (DPAHC) – A DPAHC states whom you have chosen to make health care decisions for you if you are unconscious or unable to make medical decisions. While you can select almost any adult to be your agent, you should select a person(s) knowledgeable about your wishes, values, religious beliefs and in whom you have trust and confidence and who knows how you feel about health care. You should discuss the matter with the person(s) you have chosen and make sure they understand and agree to accept the responsibility.
• Do Not Resuscitate Order (DNR) – A DNR is a request not to have cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) if your heart stops or if you stop breathing. Unless given other instructions, hospital staff will try to help any patient whose heart has stopped or who has stopped breathing. You can use an advance directive form or tell your doctor that you don’t want to be resuscitated. Your doctor will put the DNR order in your medical chart.

Should I have an advance directive?

By creating an advance directive, you are making your preferences about medical care known before you’re faced with a serious injury or illness. This will spare your loved ones the stress of making decisions about your care while you are sick. Any person 18 years of age or older can prepare an advance directive.