What does an advance health care directive do?
It allows a person to do either or both of two things:
- Appoint a Power of Attorney for Health Care
- State instructions for future healthcare decisions
Before completing a form the most important steps are:
- Deciding what you want, e.g., what has meaning for you in life, and understanding what certain treatments can or cannot do for you.
- Writing down your wishes, considering what is important to you – your quality of life, your beliefs, your values etc.
- Discussing these matters with your family, other loved ones and your doctor. Sometimes a lawyer will be involved in the context of estate planning