Advanced Directives

Question 1

LIVING WILL
AKA:
Advance Directives
Health Care Directives
Physicians Director

Answer 1

A legal document that a person uses to make known his or her wishes regarding Life-prolonging methods

Informs your health care providers and your family about your desires for medical treatment in the event you are not able to speak for yourself.

Requirements vary by state and a lawyer may be able to help

Describes certain life prolonging measures. should indicate which treatments you do or do not want applied to you in the event you either suffer from a coma, or are in a permanent vegetative state

Question 2

When to use a LIVING WILL

Answer 2

Does not become effective unless patient is incapasitated.

Only used if an ultimate recovery is hopeless.

Usually require a certification by your doctor and another doctor that you are either suffering from a terminal illness, or permanently unconscious, before they become effective.

Question 3

Health Care Power of Attorney

Answer 3

In situations where a patient is incapacitated, but a living will is not yet appropriate.

Is a legal document that gives someone else the authority to make health care decisions for you in the event you are incapacitated.

Patient should talk to the health care attorney prior to hiring in order to make sure they are clear on what they would like

Question 4

Power of Attorney

Answer 4

Is a document that allows you to appoint a person or organization to handle your affairs while you’re unavailable or unable to do so. The person or organization you appoint is referred to as an “Attorney-in-Fact” or Agent.

Question 5

Types of POWER of ATTORNEY’s

Answer 5

General
Special
Health Care
Durable

Question 6

General Power of Attorney

Answer 6

Authorizes your Agent to act on your behalf in a variety of different situations.

Question 7

Special Power of Attorney

Answer 7

Authorizes your Agent to act on your behalf in specific situations only.

Question 8

Health Care Power of Attorney

Answer 8

Allows you to appoint someone to make health care decisions for you if you’re incapacitated

Question 9

Durable Power of Attorney

Answer 9

The general, special and health care powers of attorney can all be made “durable” by adding certain text to the document. This means that the document will remain in effect or take effect if you become mentally incompetent.

Question 10

Revocation of Power of Attorney

Answer 10

Allows you to revoke a power of attorney document.

Question 11

Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Document

Answer 11

Is a binding legal document that states resuscitation should not be attempted if a person suffers cardiac or respiratory arrest. Such an order may be instituted on the basis of an advance directive from a person, or from someone entitled to make decisions on their behalf.

Question 12

DNR - (TEXAS)

Answer 12

Is written when the physician, family, and patient agree that quality of life would be so decreased that resuscitation should not be performed.

Question 13

Your Doctor and designated proxy

Answer 13

None of these documents will be of any use if no one knows about them
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