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Problems with Advance Directives Sometimes, people change their minds after expressing advance directives and forget to inform others. Many times, advance directives are too vague to guide clinical decisions.

Advance directives are legal documents that provide instructions for medical care and only go into effect if you cannot communicate your own wishes. The two most common advance directives for health care are the living will and the durable power of attorney for health care.

Advance directives consist of (1) a living will and (2) a medical (healthcare) power of attorney. A living will describes your wishes regarding medical care. With a medical power of attorney you can appoint a person to make healthcare decisions for you in case you are unable to speak for yourself.

-In addition, patient's have a right to have advance directives, such as a living will and durable power of attorney for health care.

Types of Advance Directives 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.

Advance directives are legal documents that provide instructions for medical care and only go into effect if you cannot communicate your own wishes. The two most common advance directives for health care are the living will and the durable power of attorney for health care.

Basic barriers include thinking that an advance directive isn't needed, not wanting to think about death or serious illness, not wanting to burden people, not knowing enough about advance directives and health care choices, needing help to fill out the forms, and lack of time with the doctor to discuss the matter.

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.

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.

If a patient cannot make decisions and has created no advance directive, health care providers traditionally have turned to family members for treatment decisions.Conflicts among family members are possible. The most knowledgeable surrogate decision maker may not even be a member of the family.