What is a health care directive?
A Health Care Directive is also known as an Advance Directive or Living Will. It is a document where you write down what you want for your medical care if you cannot make or explain those decisions because of your medical condition. It also lets you choose someone to make medical decisions for you if you cannot do it yourself (called your healthcare agent).
What is included in a health care directive?
Your health care directive has to name a health care agent- the person who can make medical decisions for you. It can also say what you want for your medical care, like if you want life-saving treatments or be on life support. You can also add other instructions or information like religious or spiritual beliefs, goals for your health, how to manage pain, and wishes for your funeral.
This is a way for you to share what is important to you and what you want. You can make your health care directive as detailed or as simple as you want.
Who can be my agent?
Almost anyone over 18 years old can be your health care agent, except your doctor or other healthcare provider or an employee of your healthcare provider.
Can I have more than one health care agent?
Yes- and you should! The 2nd or 3rd people you pick are backup agents. They can help if your main (1st) agent cannot or will not act on your behalf.
How do I make changes to it?
You can make changes your health care directive. To do so, you need to make a new health care directive and cancel your old one. To cancel the old one, you need to tell your health care agent(s) and healthcare provider(s) that you have a new health care directive and the old one is not valid anymore. You should also give them a copy of the new one.
