What are advance directives?
As a competent adult, you have the right to decide to accept or refuse any medical
treatment. “Competent” means you understand your condition and the results your
decision may have. As long as you are competent, you are the only person who can
decide what medical treatment you want and do not want to receive. Your doctors
will give you information and advice about the pros and cons of different kinds
of treatment, but only you can choose whether to say “yes” or “no”. You can say
“no” even if the treatment you refuse might keep you alive longer and even if your
doctor or your family wants you to have it.
Someday, you may become too sick to make your own decisions about your medical care.
If that happens, then decisions will have to be made for you. If you have not given
any instructions, no one will know what you would have decided.
Many people have
strong feelings about the kind of medical care they would like to receive or refuse
in certain cases. Advance directives are documents that allow you to clearly state
your feelings. These choices can be changed or cancelled at any time. It is a good
idea to review your advance directive each year to be sure it still says how you
want to be treated. The forms also include a place to state your wishes about organ
and tissue donation upon your death. This is a special way for you to help save
someone else’s life through transplant surgery after you die.
You are not required
by law to have these decisions written out. You can make your wishes known by talking
with your family or doctor or by writing them down, but unless you have a durable
power of attorney, your chosen spokesperson does not have legal authority to act
for you.
There are two kinds of Advance Directives allowed under Washington State law:
- Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care – This names another person who
will make
medical decisions for you if you are not able to make them for yourself.
You can pick a family member, friend or any other person you trust, but be sure
the person you choose is willing to serve.
- Directive to Physicians (Living Will) – This is a statement that you want to die naturally
and don’t wish to have medical
treatments that will extend your life.
You can obtain sample forms for Advance Directives
online: http://www.wsma.org/files/ Downloads/PatientResources/HCD-forms.pdf
Or you can get sample forms from your Primary Care Physician, or at any hospital admitting office.
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