You are healthy, active and independent. As a result, you cannot give too much away to your end-of-life desires. After all, you are healthy, what is there to worry about?
But consider this: Planning ahead can get the medical care you want and relieve the burden of making decisions with family or friends.
An Advanced Care Directives can help you do this. Here, we will see you to know about these documents.
What is an Advanced Care Directive?
If you are unable to make decisions for yourself - if you are seriously injured or ill - then someone will have to make them for you. An Advanced Care Directives ensures that your wishes for medical care apply. The desires given by him within you are legally and morally binding. This means that the person you choose as a stand-in decision maker as well as doctors and other health care professionals should fulfil your wishes.
Advanced Care Directives come in two forms: living wills for health care and durable power of attorney, or healthcare power of attorney. A survivor will outline whether or not you want to receive the medical care that you yourself are ill or unable to decide on your own. A durable power of attorney for health care gives you the opportunity to nominate someone to make medical decisions in the event that you are unable to decide for yourself.
If you opt for a stand-in decision maker, be sure to discuss the types of treatments you want or do not want to receive. Generally, family members are the stand-in decision makers of an individual; however, if you do not have a family, you can make your doctor or lawyer a decision maker.
What if I do not have Advanced Care Directives?
If you do not have Advanced Care Directives and you become seriously ill or injured, the state will appoint someone to take a decision on your behalf. This person will likely be your spouse, children or siblings. If you do not have a family available, the state will appoint someone to represent your best interests, usually you’re attending physician or the hospital's chief medical officer.
What to Consider When Making Advanced Care Directives
Be Specific: Often, Advanced Care Directives fail to be specific when expressing the type of care a person wants or does not want and instead that person does not want any "heroic measures". If you can, be specific about what type of treatment you do not want to receive. These treatments can be things like CPR, ventilator use, tube feed, intravenous fluids or comfort care.
Communicate: It goes without saying that you should communicate your wishes to your decision maker. This is especially important if you change your view on a treatment or procedure. You should also take time to talk regularly with your physician or other healthcare provider about your medical care decisions. Ask your provider about common conditions that develop with your illness or condition, treatment options, and express your wishes. Make sure that any updates to your Advanced Care Directives are noticed and signed by the notary.
Distribute: Once you have made your advance directive, give copies to your decision maker, an alternative decision maker (if necessary) and your physician. Make sure your friends and family know where you keep the copy. Alternatively, you can inform where your Advanced Care Directives is located on your refrigerator or in your wallet or purse in case of an emergency.
Though you are healthy now and you may never have to face a medical condition where you are unable to advocate for yourself, but giving an Advanced Care Directives in the place brings peace to you and those you love.
Comments
Post a Comment