“Advance directives come up frequently in conversations about health care decision-making, as people age. Their purpose is to provide written instructions for medical care, in instances where a patient is unable to communicate them herself.
An advance directive is a legal document that states a person’s preferences for medical treatment and medical decision-making, reports Valley News in an informative article titled “Advance Directives Provide Clear Guidance for Care.”
There are two components that make up an advance directive: a durable power of attorney and a treatment preferences section.
The durable power of attorney for health care allows you to appoint someone to make medical decisions, if you lack the capacity to make those decisions for yourself.
The treatment preference, which is sometimes referred to as a living will, lets you specify what kind of treatment you would want in a difficult circumstance. Treatment and care preferences usually focus on what you would want at the end of life or if you were in a permanently unconscious state. There are other preferences that can be expressed, including pain control, blood transfusions, mental health care and spiritual care. Another preference: who should—and should not—be involved in discussions about treatment.
Most people want to express their wishes to avoid aggressive measures being taken to extend their lives, when the end result will be suffering and a delay of their passing. Others chose to avoid the financial burdens that may or may not result in any kind of change in their health or the quality of their life.
Some have these documents prepared to make it clear that they want to spend their final months, weeks or days at home with loved ones with care only to relieve pain or care, so they can be conscious and able to speak with those around them.
Advance directives are a blessing to loved ones since they do not have to make hard choices in a crisis situation. They know what their aging parent or spouses wishes.
It’s important to choose the person you want to be responsible for your care well in advance. Make sure it’s someone you trust, who knows you well and will be able to make hard decisions in a highly emotional time. They’ll also have to be able to communicate with your doctors and family members.
These documents are bound by the laws of your state, so speak with an estate planning attorney who practices law in your state of residence. They’ll be able to prepare these documents on your behalf, along with a will and other estate planning documents.
Reference: Valley News (Sep. 1, 2018) “Advance Directives Provide Clear Guidance for Care”
“隨著人們年齡的增長，他們會經常談到有關醫療決定的問題。目的是在患者無法自行溝通的情況下提供醫療護理的書面說明。”
預先指示 (Advance Directives) 是一份法律文件，說明一個人對醫療護理和醫療決定的意願，谷新聞在一篇題為信息的文章中報導“Advance Directives Provide Clear Guidance for Care.”(預先指示提供明確的護理指導)
預先指示是由兩個組成部分構成：持久的授權書和治療意願的部分。
如果您缺乏為自己做出決定的能力，那麼持久的醫療授權書允許您指定某人為您做出醫療決定。
治療意願有時被稱為生前意願，可讓您指定在困難環境中您想要的治療方式。治療和護理意願通常重於在您生命結束時想要什麼，或者您處於永久性無意識狀態。還有其他意願，包括疼痛控制，輸血，精神保健和精神護理。另一個意願：誰應該以及不應該參與有關治療的討論。
大多數人都希望表達他們的願望，避免採取過激措施來延長他們的生命，導致最終結果是痛苦和延遲他們的死亡。其他人則選擇避免經濟負擔, 這可能會或不會導致他們的健康或生活品質發生改變。
有些人準備好這些文件，用來表示他們希望在家中與親人一起度過最後幾個月，幾週或幾天，主要是為了緩解疼痛和免除不必要的護理，使他們會有意識並能與周圍的人交談。
預先指示是對親人的祝福，因為他們不必在危機情況下做出艱難的選擇。他們知道他們年邁的父母或配偶的意願。
重要的是要提前選擇您想要護理負責人。確保這是你信任的人，誰能夠很好地了解你，並且能夠在情緒激動的時刻做出艱難的決定。他們還必須能夠與您的醫生和家人溝通。
這些文件受到您所在州法律的約束，因此請諮詢在您居住的州的執業資產規劃律師。他們將能夠代表您準備這些文件，以及遺囑和其他資產規劃文件。
參考: Valley News (Sep. 1, 2018) “Advance Directives Provide Clear Guidance for Care”