Advance Directives

The term advance directive describes two types of legal documents that enable you to plan for and communicate your end-of-life issues in the event you are unable to communicate:

1. A living will allows you to document your wishes concerning medical treatments at the end of life.
2. A medical power of attorney (or health care proxy) allows you to appoint a person you trust as your health care agent (or surrogate decision maker), who is authorized to make medical decisions on your behalf.

Advance directives are legally valid throughout the United States. The laws governing advance directives vary from state to state, so it is important to complete and sign advance directives that comply with your state's law. Also, advance directives can have different titles in different states.

Living wills and medical powers of attorney are valuable tools to help communicate wishes about future medical care. Thoughtfully prepared advance directives can ease the burden on those who must make healthcare decisions for us.

Advance directives identify who you wish to speak for you and make decisions if you become unable to speak for yourself as the result of an accident or illness. Without advance directives, decisions might not be made by people who know you or your wishes. Advance directives give you a voice in decisions about your medical treatment, even if you are unconscious or too ill to communicate.

The above information is from the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization. Click here to go to the website to download Advance Directives for your state: http://www.caringinfo.org/stateaddownload.

In the state of Illinois, there are three legally recognized advance directive documents. They include the Living Will, the Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare and Five Wishes.

What is a Living Will?

A Living Will is a written directive made to your family, physicians and other health care providers expressing your wish to withhold or withdraw death-delaying medical treatment in the event of a terminal illness. It does not allow you do designate a health care agent to make health care decisions for you.

When does a Living Will take effect?

It becomes effective when a physician determines that you have a terminal condition, death is imminent and administering medical treatments will only prolong the dying process.