Advance Health Care Directive - Declaration to Physicians - health care proxy - health care power of attorney or medical poa - medical directive

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Advance Directive for Health Care. Do it yourself a health care power of attorney, living will, guardianship and organ gonation provisions document. Designate a primary physician with advanced medical directive

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Advance Medical and Health Care Directive  

Advance Health Care Directive Forms


There are various legal mechanisms that allow another person to act on your behalf if you are unable to do so. The two main concerns here are giving that person the legal right to manage your property and to make medical decisions for you while you are incapacitated.
 
 
 
   Adults have the fundamental right to control decisions relating to their health care. You have the right to make medical and other health care decisions for yourself so long as you can give informed consent for those decisions. No treatment may be given to you over your objection at the time of treatment, including nutrition and hydration. You may decide whether you want life-sustaining procedures withheld or withdrawn in instances of a terminal condition.
 
A growing number of people are stating their wishes regarding life-prolonging possibilities while they are still able to make these decisions. The two basic documents that allow you to express your desires regarding methods of treatment you want or do not want when you are unable to speak are the Living Will and the Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care (or Health Care Proxy). These documents are also called the Advanced Health Care Directive.
 
 
   Depending on the state law, it may have different names: Health Care Declaration, Declaration to Physician, Dying Declaration, a Health Care Proxy, Declaration of Health Care Surrogate, and Advanced Medical Directive.
 
Your decision to write a living will and/or a Health Care Durable Power of Attorney
depends on your own moral and ethical principles. If your belief system guides you to choose life at any cost, make these feelings known to your family members and physicians. You are not required by law to have an Advance Health Care Directive.
 
Health Care Directive  
 
   

WHAT IS A LIVING WILL

 

WHAT IS A DURABLE POWER OF ATTORNEY FOR HEALTH CARE?

In a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care you designate an agent to make important health care decisions for you in accordance with your wishes. You may give the agent broad powers, or you may limit his powers to certain acts. Similar to the financial power of attorney, you give the agent power to make health related decisions on your behalf. You agent is obligated to act in accordance with your religious, moral, and other requests.
 
Your agent's authority begins when your doctor certifies that you lack the competence to make health care decisions.
 
You must be at least 18 years of age or older to sign a valid Health Care Directive. Your state of mind is also important – you must understand the nature and the purpose of this document, and know its content and how it is going to work.
 
The majority of states require that the Advance Health Care Directive be either notarized or witnessed by two witnesses. However, some states (e.g. New York) have no such requirements. Please read more detailed information on your state page.
 
Please read the following articles and FAQ’s to find more helpful information regarding this important topic.
 
  CAUTION: A Living Will has nothing to do with your Last Will, an instrument that is used to leave your property at death to your heirs.
 
A Living Will is a document in which you state in advance your wishes regarding medical treatment and life-sustaining procedures to be performed (or refrained from) in case of your terminal illness or incapacitation. You do not delegate any duties or responsibilities to anyone by this document.
 
 
 

WHAT KIND OF AUTHORITIES MAY I MENTION IN MY HEALTH CARE DIRECTIVE?

 
    Your Health Care Directive allows you to take care of many things while you are in good health and a clear state of mind. Keep in mind that your agent will act as you would act in similar circumstances. You may authorize, or decline to consent to organ donation, or to provide for a burial-cremation ceremony. These tough decisions may be particularly important for your family members, especially if you were married more than once and have children from previous marriages.
 
You current spouse may want to do one thing, and your children ...   Read more
 
 
  Health Care Directive
 

WHAT IS PATIENT SELF-DETERMINATION ACT?

In order to protect the rights of its citizens, Congress passed the Patient Self-Determination Act in 1991. This law makes it clear that you have the right to make decisions regarding your medical care including the right to accept or refuse treatment and the right to make an advance directive.   Read more
 
 
 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

   
 

To better understand the health care and pecuniary related issues our legal articles and other law related information may be of interest to you.

Health Care Directive

 
 
LEGAL DISCLAIMER:  Legal Helpmate Corp. is not a law firm and does not give legal advice. If difficult legal issues are involved, you should consult an attorney.
 
Legal Helpmate Corp. is a legal document service center that provides you with appropriately prepared legal forms to cover your health care and pecuniary decisions.
 
 

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Many Hospice Workers Lack Their Own End-of-Life Directives

U.S. News & World Report
Only 44 percent had completed an advance directive outlining their wishes for medical care if they're unable to communicate those wishes themselves. The findings seem surprising, the researchers said, given that hospice care workers regularly see the ...
Many Hospice Workers Lack Their Own End-of-Life Directives

End-of-Life Planning – The Intersection of Faith and Law

Afro American
Without end-of-life planning materials in place, families are often left with a heavy heart and more work. There are three documents Marylanders should have in place to ensure they are taken care of in life and death – advance health care directive...
End-of-Life Planning – The Intersection of Faith and Law

Cambria responds to homelessness on two fronts

The San Luis Obispo Tribune
Those items range from a list of emergency contacts, a summary of medical conditions and medications, insurance policies and vehicle data to an inventory of assets and liabilities, plus essential documents (do you have an advance health care directive...
Cambria responds to homelessness on two fronts

WILLAIM LAKO: Even married couples need to discuss power of attorney

MDJOnline.com
In addition to a will, families also need a Financial Power of Attorney and an Advance Directive for Healthcare in place. These critical documents should be addressed by your estate planning attorney so they are in place before they are needed. Once ...
WILLAIM LAKO: Even married couples need to discuss power of attorney

Delta Datelines: Pet adoptions, youth empowerment workshop, holiday events on tap

East Bay Times
Contra Costa Senior Legal Services offers a free legal clinic to prepare and notarize an advance health care directive, tailor-made for you in a 45-minute, individual confidential appointment with an attorney. For any senior 60 or older who resides ...
Delta Datelines: Pet adoptions, youth empowerment workshop, holiday events on tap

Majority of hospice workers don't have end-of-life wishes themselves

Science Daily
On a daily basis, health care providers, especially those dealing with terminally ill patients, such as hospice workers, witness how advance directives -- an important document specifying choices for future medical treatment and options when an ...
Majority of hospice workers don't have end-of-life wishes themselves
 

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