Advance Directive Hide Watermark For Free

Get the living will and medical power of attorney forms for your state, or use a universal form that has been approved by many states. Choose your health care agent. Fill out the forms, and have them witnessed as your state requires.

A medical or health care power of attorney is a type of advance directive in which you name a person to make decisions for you when you are unable to do so. In some states this directive may also be called a durable power of attorney for health care or a health care proxy.

Federal law does not require individuals to complete any form of advance directive (and nor do state laws), and it expressly forbids requiring an advance directive as a requisite for treatment.

Some states combine a declaration and a durable power of attorney into a single form, called an "advance health care directive."You may change or revoke your health care directive at any time. If someone disputes the validity of your health care directive, it may be challenged in court.

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.

What Happens If I Don't Make an Advance Directive? You will receive medical care regardless of whether or not you have an advance directive.If you cannot speak for yourself and do not have an advance directive, a physician will generally look to your family, friends, or clergy for decisions about your care.

Advance directives are legally recognized documents and doctors must respect your known wishes, but doctors can always refuse to comply with your wishes if they have an objection of conscience or consider your wishes medically inappropriate.