A living will is a legal document used to record certain future health decisions only when a person is unable to make the decisions and decisions themselves. A living will is only used at the end of life when a person is terminally ill (incurable) or permanently unconscious. The living will describes the type of medical treatment the person may or may not want to receive in these situations. It can describe under what conditions an attempt to prolong life should be started or stopped. This applies to treatments, including but not limited to dialysis, tube feeding, or maintaining vital functions (such as the use of ventilators). The most common types of living wills are living wills and continuing powers of attorney for health care (sometimes called medical power of attorney). A continuing power of attorney for health care, also known as a medical power of attorney, is a legal document in which you designate someone as your substitute decision-maker to make all your health decisions if you are unable to do so. Before a medical power of attorney can be used as a guideline for medical decisions, the physician must certify to a person that the person is incapable of making their own medical decisions. Organ and tissue donations may be included in your patient order. Many states also provide organ donor cards or add notes to your driver`s license.
National Cancer Institute (NCI). Advance Guidelines. 2015. Retrieved www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/managing-care/advance-directives, February 19, 2019. There are many formats for advance directives. Some follow forms set out in state laws, others are created by attorneys or even the patients themselves. State laws and courts decide whether these documents are valid. All states and the District of Columbia have living wills laws. Make sure you understand the specific requirements for drafting legal living wills in your state. A POLST form must be signed by a qualified member of your healthcare team, such as your doctor. Emergency personnel such as paramedics and emergency medical technicians cannot use a living will, but they can use a POLST form.
Without a POLST form, emergency personnel must offer you all possible treatments to keep you alive. Before writing an advance directive, you should talk to your doctor, your loved ones and at least one person you want to choose as your substitute decision-maker (substitute decision-maker). Talk to them about your situation, desires, and fears, as they are the ones who will help you put your wishes into action if you are unable to do so. You can usually get precautionary forms from your state`s bar association or Caring Connection (part of the National Hospice Palliative Care Organization). If you are ready to fill out your living will, your healthcare team may be able to help. National Institute on Aging (NIA). Preventive planning: health care guidelines. 2018. Accessed www.nia.nih.gov/health/advance-care-planning-healthcare-directives#what February 26, 2019.
A POLTS form also helps describe your health care wishes, but is not an advance directive. A POLST form contains a number of specific medical prescriptions that a critically ill person can fill out and ask their doctor to sign. A POLST form meets your wishes in an emergency, for example if you use CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) in an emergency, or if you go to the hospital in an emergency and, if necessary, if you are placed on a ventilator or stay where you are and can feel comfortable. If you are unable to make your own health decisions, your health care worker or substitute decision-maker can speak to your healthcare team and other caregivers on your behalf and make decisions according to your previous wishes or instructions. If your wishes are not known in a particular situation, your agent or agent will make a decision based on what they think you would like. When you are able to make your own medical decisions again, your agent will no longer be able to make medical decisions on your behalf. The American Cancer Society`s medical information is protected by copyright. For reprint requests, please see our Content Use Policy. Living will laws vary from state to state. Make sure you know the specific laws of your state. If you spend most of your time in more than one state, talk to your doctor and check each state`s laws.
