An advance directive is a legal document that records your medical wishes in the event you are not able to make your own medical decisions. As long are you are able to coherently speak for yourself, your doctors will always rely on you to tell them what kind of care you would like. A living will is a type of advance directive, but is specific to situations where you have a terminal medical illness.
Some examples where you might not be able to make your own decisions and your advance directive would be used include:
1. You have had an accident where you not conscious and cannot speak (car accident)
2. An event where you are not able to speak (large stroke, coma)
3. An illness where you are delirious (significant infection, such as pneumonia)
4. An illness where you are sick enough to need a ventilator to breathe and are, therefore, sedated (severe pneumonia, covid)
5. Illness where you are medically incompetent (dementia)
The advance directive includes three parts:
- Naming your medical power of attorney, sometimes called your medical proxy. This is the person who advises your physicians on your behalf. Read more about choosing a medical power of attorney.
- Documenting specifics about the medical care you would want if you could not make your own decisions. This might include a DNR order or MOLST/POLST/POST. Read about those here.
- Wishes for your body after your death such as funeral arrangements and organ donation.
Want to learn more?
Read my step-by-step guide to making an advance directive.