Maryland Statutory Advance Health Directive
About this form
The Statutory Advance Health Directive is a legal document that lets you express your preferences regarding medical treatment in situations where you can no longer make decisions for yourself. It outlines your wishes about life-sustaining procedures and allows you to appoint a trusted agent to make healthcare decisions on your behalf. This form is distinct from other directives, such as a standard living will, because it integrates elements for designating a healthcare agent and specifying treatment preferences under various medical conditions.
What’s included in this form
- Part I: Selection of a primary healthcare agent and optional backup agents.
- Part II: Treatment preferences in cases of terminal illness, persistent vegetative state, and end-stage conditions.
- Organ donation preferences after death.
- Authorization for the healthcare agent to access medical information.
- Signature and witness section to validate the directive.
When to use this form
This form should be used when you want to ensure that your medical treatment preferences are known and respected in case you are unable to communicate them due to a serious illness or injury. It is essential for individuals facing chronic illnesses, those undergoing major surgery, or anyone wanting to prepare for unforeseen medical emergencies. Additionally, it is helpful to have this directive in place as part of advance healthcare planning.
Intended users of this form
- Adults of any age who wish to outline their healthcare preferences.
- Individuals with serious or chronic health conditions.
- Anyone who desires to appoint a trusted person as their healthcare agent.
- People interested in becoming organ donors.
Steps to complete this form
- Identify and select your primary healthcare agent in Part I, and include any backup agents if desired.
- In Part II, articulate your medical treatment preferences for critical medical situations.
- Sign the document in the presence of two witnesses to make it valid.
- Provide copies to your healthcare agent, physician, and keep a copy accessible at home.
- Review and update your directive periodically to ensure it reflects your current wishes.
Does this form need to be notarized?
Notarization is not commonly needed for this form. However, certain documents or local rules may make it necessary. Our notarization service, powered by Notarize, allows you to finalize it securely online anytime, day or night.
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Make edits, fill in missing information, and update formatting in US Legal Forms—just like you would in MS Word.
Download a copy, print it, send it by email, or mail it via USPS—whatever works best for your next step.
Sign and collect signatures with our SignNow integration. Send to multiple recipients, set reminders, and more. Go Premium to unlock E-Sign.
If this form requires notarization, complete it online through a secure video call—no need to meet a notary in person or wait for an appointment.
We protect your documents and personal data by following strict security and privacy standards.
Mistakes to watch out for
- Failing to discuss your wishes with your chosen healthcare agent.
- Neglecting to keep the completed directive in an accessible location.
- Not updating the form if your preferences or agents change.
- Forgetting to sign the document in front of witnesses.
Advantages of online completion
- Convenient access and easy download, allowing for immediate use.
- Editable format ensures that you can personalize the document to reflect your wishes accurately.
- Reliability from licensed attorneys who draft the templates, ensuring legal compliance.
Legal use & context
- Your Advance Health Directive is legally binding in Maryland, provided it is properly completed and witnessed.
- This document ensures your health care preferences are respected and carried out when you are unable to communicate your wishes.
- It may be helpful to review your directive periodically and update it as necessary, especially after significant life changes.
Quick recap
- Advance directives establish your medical treatment preferences and appoint an agent.
- This form is essential for ensuring your wishes are respected in medical emergencies.
- Regular reviews of your directive are important to keep it current.
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FAQ
You can get the forms in a doctor's office, hospital, law office, state or local office for the aging, senior center, nursing home, or online. When you write your advance directive, think about the kinds of treatments that you do or don't want to receive if you get seriously hurt or ill.
The name and contact information of your healthcare agent/proxy. Answers to specific questions about your preferences for care if you become unable to speak for yourself. Names and signatures of individuals who witness your signing your advance directive, if required.
An advance directive, alone, may not be sufficient to stop all forms of life-saving treatment. You may also need specific do not resuscitate, or DNR orders.You retain the right to override the decisions or your representative, change the terms of your living will or POA, or completely revoke an advance directive.
An advance directive isn't the same as a DNR DNRs, like POLST forms, require a physician's sign-off and are medical orders, instructing emergency personnel to withhold resuscitation efforts. If you don't want to receive resuscitation, including that information in an advance care directive is not enough.
The living will. Durable power of attorney for health care/Medical power of attorney. POLST (Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment) Do not resuscitate (DNR) orders. Organ and tissue donation.
Is the Five Wishes advance directive a legal document? Yes. It was written with the help of the American Bar Association's Commission on Law & Aging. It meets the legal requirements of 44 states, but is used widely in all 50, and a federal law requires medical care providers to honor patient wishes as expressed.
An advance directive is a set of instructions someone prepares in advance of ill health that determines his healthcare wishes. A living will is one type of advance directive that becomes effective when a person is terminally ill.
Advance directives generally fall into three categories: living will, power of attorney, and health care proxy.
As long as you can still make your own decisions, your advance directive won't be used. You can change or cancel it at any time. Your health care agent will only make choices for you if you can't or don't want to decide for yourself.
