Clarifying Advance Directives and Living Wills: Understanding the Differences
Addressing the topic of one’s mortality is never easy, but having advance directives and living wills in place can offer assurance that your wishes will be respected during health crises. It’s crucial to understand that advance directives encompass various forms, and we will focus on the most common ones related to healthcare.
Distinguishing Between Living Wills and Advance Directives
Differentiating between advance directives and living wills is essential, as these terms are often interchanged. However, they hold distinct meanings. Advance directives serve as a comprehensive category that covers legal instructions regarding your healthcare preferences. Within this category, one type is the living will, which is designed specifically to articulate your medical treatment choices when facing terminal illness.
Unpacking the Living Will
A living will, classified as an advance directive, is a written document that outlines your healthcare desires for end-of-life scenarios when you’re incapacitated. This document communicates your medical treatment preferences if you become terminally ill and unable to express your wishes. It details the medical interventions you approve or decline, including the extent to which life should be prolonged. Your religious considerations may also be included.
Exploring Advance Directives
Advance directives are a set of instructions that encompass a broader spectrum of healthcare wishes. Similar to living wills, they apply when you cannot communicate your preferences due to severe medical situations. Unlike living wills, however, advance directives aren’t confined to terminal illnesses. They extend to scenarios such as dementia, stroke, or coma.
Various types of advance directives exist, including living wills, medical power of attorney, and do-not-resuscitate (DNR) orders.
Understanding Medical Orders
Medical orders, crafted by healthcare professionals in consultation with patients, communicate treatment preferences to other medical staff. These orders address life-sustaining treatments for terminally ill patients:
- A do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order instructs against life-saving measures like cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
- A do-not-intubate (DNI) order indicates the patient’s refusal of intubation.
A Portable Order for Life Sustaining Treatment (POLST) informs emergency medical personnel about CPR and the extent of medical interventions.
Empowering Medical Power of Attorney
A medical power of attorney (POA) allows you to designate a health care proxy or agent. This individual can make healthcare decisions on your behalf when you’re incapable. To act, your physician must certify your incapacity. Unlike living wills, power of attorney appointments are separate.
Enforceability and State-Specific Laws
For concrete assurance of adhering to your wishes, advance directives are ideal. A medical power of attorney enables your health care agent to enforce your decisions. A living will conveys end-of-life preferences to medical personnel and family, authorizing your health care agent to act in alignment with your wishes.
State laws governing these documents vary, underscoring the importance of understanding local regulations. Familiarizing yourself with your state’s laws is vital, especially if you spend time in multiple states.
State-Specific Advance Directives
States offer varying forms of advance directives, from verbal to written. While no fixed template exists, these documents must align with state laws.
Making Informed Choices
Choosing between living wills and advance directives hinges on your specific needs. Some opt for both, while others find one sufficient. Consulting a financial professional aids in crafting a comprehensive estate plan that meets your wishes. The intricate nature of these decisions underscores the need for expert guidance.
