These directives pertain to trea tment preferences
and the designation of a surrogate decision-maker in the event that a person should
become unable to make medical decisions on their own behalf. Advance directives
generally fall into three categories: living will, power of attorney and health
care proxy.
LIVING WILL: This is a written document that specifies what types of medical
treatment are desired. A living will can be very specific or very general.
The most common statement in a living will is to the effect that: If I suffer
an incurable, irreversible illness, disease, or condition and my attending physician
determines that my condition is terminal, I direct that life-sustaining measures
that would serve only to prolong my dying be withheld or discontinued.
More specific living wills may include information regarding an individual's
desire for such services such as analgesia (pain relief), antibiotics, hydration,
feeding, and the use of ventilators or cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
HEALTH CARE PROXY: This is a legal document in which an individual designates
another person to make health care decisions if he or she is rendered incapable
of making their wishes known. The health care proxy has, in essence, the same rights
to request or refuse treatment that the individual would have if capable of making
and communicating decisions.
DURABLE POWER OF ATTORNEY: This is the third type of advance directive. Individuals
may draft legal documents providing power of attorney to others in the case of incapacitating
medical condition. The durable power of attorney allows an individual to make bank
transactions, sign Social Security checks, apply for disability, or simply write
checks to pay the utility bill while an individual is medically incapacitated.
medical
dictionary, online medical dictionary, medical
terminology dictionary, free online medical
dictionary, medical dictionary, online medical
dictionary, medical terminology dictionary, free
online medical dictionary, dictionary medical,
dictionary medical online, dictionary medical
terminology, dictionary free medical online,
dictionary free medical, dictionary medical
terms, dictionary drug medical medicine,
dictionary health illustrated medical nursing
profession stedmans, dictionary English medical,
dictionary medical online terminology,
dictionary encyclopedia medical online,
condition dictionary medical, dictionary
medical, dictionary drug medical, medical
dictionary software, cyclopedic dictionary index
medical tabers thumb, medical dictionary, online
medical dictionary, medical terminology
dictionary
