Advance Medical Directives

An advance medical directive is a way to let your family and health care providers know what your wishes are regarding future medical care.

You have the right to accept or refuse medical care. An advance directive can help protect this right if you can't speak for yourself.

An advance directive will enable you to make your feelings known about such treatments as respirators, feeding tubes, dialysis, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), intravenous (IV) therapy, blood transfusions and organ donations.

The two types of advance directives are:

Living Wills and Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care

The Living Will is a written instruction explaining your wishes about health care. It is called "living" because it takes effect while you are still alive.

The Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care names a person to make medical decisions on your behalf if you are not able to.

An advance directive only becomes effective when you are temporarily or permanently unable to make your own decisions about your treatment.

You have the right to change or cancel your advance directive at any time. If you have made an advance directive, a copy should be given to your health care providers. A copy should be placed in your record with Hospice of Hope. Your wishes will be followed to the extent permitted by law.

You do not need a lawyer to complete an advance directive. You may choose to discuss these matters with an attorney, but there is no requirement to do so. Use the link below to download Living Will and Durable Power of Attorney forms for your state.   It is important to make your wishes known.

Ask your Hospice of Hope Social Worker for the latest version of Advance Directive forms for your state.