Advanced Healthcare Directives

Planning for Incapacity with Advanced Healthcare Directives

In recent decades, the increasing use of life sustaining drugs and medical interventions have raised fears that our lives may be artificially prolonged against our wishes.  Everyone wants the right to die with dignity and without tremendous agony and expense for both the patient and the family.

As we grow older, we face the possibility of becoming mentally or physically incapacitated. Though it may be difficult to consider your own incapacity, wise planning means considering how you might want to handle different situations based on your own values. 

Advanced care planning is a process of learning about options for end-of-life care.  Then writing down your wishes for medical care and appointing a trusted person who will be comfortable to carry out these wishes and making them known to your doctor and health care team.

Every state has laws authorizing an individual to create simple documents to set out their desires concerning life-prolonging medical treatment. Some states and organizations have their own official forms to accomplish this.

First, you will need or want a living will. A living will is simply a piece of paper where you explain your desires in the event medical conditions such as a stroke arise that cause you to not be able to express your choices. Living wills often discuss and give options for cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR), artificial hydration (IVs) and nutrition (feeding tubes) and mechanical ventilation. A living will should not be confused with a traditional will. A traditional last will and testament expresses what you want to happen to your property and minor children if you die.

Second, you should prepare a durable power of attorney for health care. This is sometimes called a medical power of attorney. In this document you designate a health care surrogate or patient advocate to communicate with your doctors and other health care providers so that you receive the kind of medical care that you most want.

A third document you should prepare is a durable financial power of attorney, which gives a trusted friend or relative the ability to handle your financial matters like your checking account, if you become incapacitated or unable to function on your own.

You may also want to consider preparing a mental health power of attorney, which appoints someone to make healthcare decisions if you have been determined to be incapable to make them yourself. Incapacity is determined by a medical professional.

These documents together can be used as a guide for the person making decisions on your behalf about your healthcare in advance of an unforeseen medical crisis. 

This link provides a free form for the Pennsylvania Advance Health Care Directive:

https://prepareforyourcare.org/documents/PA-PREPARE-Advance-Directive-English.pdf 

Talk to your loved ones today about what matters most.