What You Can Cover in Your Health Care Documents
by
Shae Irving, J.D.
An overview of some important medical issues you'll face when preparing a living will and a power of attorney for health care.
When creating your living will and your durable power of attorney for health care, you have many options and a great deal of flexibility. Following are some issues you may want to consider. (For basic information about these two documents, see Living Wills and Powers of Attorney for Health Care: How They Work.)
Your Living Will
Your living will (health care declaration) is the place to write out what you do and do not want in terms of medical care if you are unable to speak for yourself. You don't need to become a medical expert to complete your document, but it will help you to become familiar with the kinds of medical procedures that are commonly administered to patients who are seriously ill.
Life-Prolonging Medical Care
In most states, living wills ask you whether or not you want to receive life-prolonging treatments at the end of life. Such procedures typically include:
- transfusions of blood and blood products
- cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
- diagnostic tests
- dialysis
- administration of drugs
- use of a respirator, and
- surgery.
If you want more information, you can discuss these treatments with your doctor or a patient representative at a hospital or health insurance plan office, or you can turn to self-help resources for more detailed information.
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