Also known as...
Advance directives are also known by the following names:
Directive to physicians
Declaration regarding life-sustaining procedures
Order for life-sustaining treatment
And might be included in the following documents:
Patient advocate designation
Durable power of attorney (POA) for healthcare
Medical power of attorney (POA)
Healthcare power of attorney (POA)
Even a do not resuscitate (DNR) order is a form of advance directive.
What is it, exactly?
An advance directive is a legal document that allows individuals to specify their preferences for medical treatment, especially in situations where they may be unable to communicate or make decisions. It typically includes instructions about life-sustaining treatments, resuscitation, and organ donation. Advance directives provide guidance to healthcare providers and loved ones, ensuring that the individual's wishes for medical care are honored.
What does it include?
An advance directive typically includes instructions and preferences for these treatment situations:
Life-Sustaining Measures: Interventions such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), mechanical ventilation, and artificial nutrition and hydration.
Medical Procedures: Specific medical treatments or procedures, such as surgery, blood transfusions, and diagnostic tests.
Palliative Care: Symptom management (such as pain and anxiety), along with comfort care during serious illness or at the end of life.
Nursing Home or Hospice Care: Preferences for care settings and specific instructions for care in these environments.
End-of-Life Care: Instructions for the type of care and environment preferred as the end-of-life approaches, perhaps even the disposition of the body following death.
Organ and Tissue Donation: Wishes regarding the donation of organs or tissues for transplantation or medical research.
It's important to note that even more details and specific content can be included in an advance directive based on individual preferences, cultural considerations, and jurisdictional legal requirements.
Why is it important?
It allows your loved one to document their specific healthcare preferences and treatment choices, ensuring that medical decisions align with their values.
It empowers your loved one to maintain control over their healthcare, especially in situations where they may be unable to communicate or make decisions.
Your loved one can communicate their desires for the quality of life they wish to maintain, particularly in situations involving serious illness or end-of-life care.
It allows your loved one to express their intentions regarding organ and tissue donation, sparing family members from potential discomfort and dismissing any conflicting ideologies.
It prevents family fighting and avoids healthcare provider ethical dilemmas.
Having clear, pre-determined directives relieves family members and loved ones from the burden of making difficult decisions during emotionally challenging times.
It helps prevent unwanted or ineffective medical interventions by specifying the circumstances under which certain treatments should or should not be administered.
A properly executed advance directive is a legally binding document that healthcare providers must follow, providing a formal means of ensuring that one's wishes are honored.
In many jurisdictions, an advance directive is essential for ensuring that one's wishes are respected, as healthcare providers often require legal documentation to follow specified instructions.
Knowing that your loved one's preferences are documented and legally recognized can bring peace of mind, reducing anxiety about future medical decisions.
It encourages open communication about healthcare preferences among family members and healthcare providers, especially at end-of-life.
In summary, an advance directive is a crucial aspect of future care planning, providing your loved one with the opportunity to shape their healthcare journey and have their preferences honored in times of incapacity or serious illness.
How is an advance directive created?
While it is advisable to work with legal professionals to ensure that the advance directive accurately reflects an individual's wishes and complies with applicable laws, it is not necessary. All 50 states and all U.S. territories have advance directive forms available directly to your loved one that, when completed properly, are just as legally binding as any drafted by a lawyer.
No one has to wait until they are elderly or have a serious illness to execute an advance directive! In addition to encouraging your loved one to complete an advance directive, you should consider it, too.
Also, see our Stack on Legal Forms.
No content in this app, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for any direct legal advice you receive from your lawyer or other qualified legal professionals.
Likewise, no content in this app, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.
Maagizo ya mapema pia yanajulikana kwa majina yafuatayo: Maagizo kwa madaktari Taarifa kuhusu taratibu za kuhifadhi maisha Amri ya matibabu ya kuhifadhi maisha na inaweza kujumuishwa katika nyaraka zifuatazo: Uteuzi wa mtetezi wa mgonjwa Nguvu ya muda mrefu ya wakili (POA) kwa huduma ya afya Nguvu ya wakili ya huduma ya afya (POA) Hata amri ya kuepuka kuokoa (NRD) ni aina ya maagizo ya mapema. Ni nini, hasa? Maagizo ya mapema ni hati ya kisheria ambayo inaruhusu watu kuelezea mapendekezo yao ya matibabu, hasa katika hali ambapo wanaweza kuwa hawawezi kuwasiliana au kufanya maamuzi. Kwa kawaida hutia ndani maagizo kuhusu matibabu ya kuhifadhi uhai, kuamsha uhai, na kutoa viungo. Maagizo ya mapema hutoa mwongozo kwa watoa huduma za afya na wapendwa, kuhakikisha kwamba matakwa ya mtu binafsi kwa huduma za matibabu yanaheshimiwa. Inatia ndani nini? "Hatua za kuendeleza maisha: Hatua kama vile ""cardiopulmonary resuscitation"" (CPR), ""mechanical ventilation,"" na ""artificial nutrition and hydration.""" Matibabu: Matibabu au taratibu hususa za kitiba, kama vile upasuaji, utiaji-damu mishipani, na uchunguzi wa utambuzi. Matibabu ya kupunguza maumivu: Matibabu ya dalili (kama vile maumivu na wasiwasi), pamoja na huduma ya faraja wakati wa ugonjwa mbaya au mwishoni mwa maisha. Matibabu ya Hospice: Mapendekezo ya mazingira ya utunzaji na maagizo maalum ya utunzaji katika mazingira haya. Ulinzi wa Mwisho wa Maisha: Maagizo ya aina ya huduma na mazingira yanayopendekezwa wakati mwisho wa maisha unakaribia, labda hata urekebishaji wa mwili baada ya kifo. Utoaji wa viungo na tishu: Matakwa kuhusu utoaji wa viungo au tishu kwa ajili ya kupandikiza au utafiti wa matibabu. Ni muhimu kutambua kwamba hata maelezo zaidi na maudhui maalum yanaweza kujumuishwa katika maagizo ya mapema kulingana na upendeleo wa mtu binafsi, kuzingatia utamaduni, na mahitaji ya kisheria ya mamlaka. Kwa nini jambo hilo ni muhimu? Inaruhusu mpendwa wako kurekodi mapendekezo yake maalum ya huduma ya afya na chaguzi za matibabu, kuhakikisha kwamba maamuzi ya matibabu yanalingana na maadili yake. Msaada huu unamwezesha mtu wako wa karibu kudumisha udhibiti juu ya huduma zake za afya, haswa katika hali ambazo huenda wasiweze kuwasiliana au kufanya maamuzi. Mpendwa wako anaweza kuwasiliana na matakwa yake kwa ubora wa maisha anayotaka kudumisha, haswa katika hali zinazohusisha ugonjwa mbaya au huduma ya mwisho wa maisha. Msaada huu unamruhusu mtu mpendwa wako kuelezea nia zake kuhusu kutoa viungo na tishu, kuokoa wanafamilia kutoka kwa shida yoyote na kuondoa itikadi zozote zinazopingana. Inazuia mapigano ya familia na kuepuka matatizo ya kimaadili ya watoa huduma za afya. Kuwa na maagizo yaliyo wazi na yaliyoamuliwa kimbele huondoa mzigo wa kufanya maamuzi magumu wakati wa nyakati zenye matatizo ya kihisia. Inasaidia kuzuia uingiliaji wa matibabu usiofaa au usiofaa kwa kutaja hali ambazo matibabu fulani yanapaswa au hayapaswi kutolewa. Maagizo ya mapema ya mteja ni hati ya kisheria inayolazimisha ambayo watoa huduma za afya lazima wafuate, kutoa njia rasmi ya kuhakikisha matakwa ya mteja yanaheshimiwa. Katika mamlaka nyingi, maagizo ya mapema ni muhimu kuhakikisha kwamba matakwa ya mtu yanaheshimiwa, kwani watoa huduma za afya mara nyingi huhitaji nyaraka za kisheria kufuata maagizo maalum. Kujua kwamba mapendezi ya mtu unayempenda yameandikwa na kutambuliwa kisheria kunaweza kuleta amani ya akili, na kupunguza wasiwasi kuhusu maamuzi ya kitiba ya wakati ujao. Inasaidia mawasiliano ya wazi kuhusu upendeleo wa huduma za afya kati ya washiriki wa familia na watoa huduma za afya, hasa mwishoni mwa maisha. Kwa muhtasari, maagizo ya mapema ni kipengele muhimu cha mipango ya huduma ya baadaye, kumpa mpendwa wako fursa ya kuunda safari yao ya huduma ya afya na kuwa na mapendekezo yao kuheshimiwa katika nyakati za kutokuwa na uwezo au ugonjwa mbaya. Ni jinsi gani maagizo ya mapema yanaundwa? Ingawa ni vyema kufanya kazi na wataalamu wa sheria ili kuhakikisha kwamba maagizo ya mapema yanaonyesha kwa usahihi matakwa ya mtu binafsi na inalingana na sheria zinazotumika, sio lazima. Majimbo yote ya Marekani na maeneo yote ya Marekani yana fomu za maagizo ya mapema zinazopatikana moja kwa moja kwa mpendwa wako, ambazo zinapojazwa vizuri, zina nguvu kisheria kama yoyote iliyoandikwa na mwanasheria. Hakuna mtu anayepaswa kungoja hadi awe mzee-mzee au awe na ugonjwa mbaya ili kutekeleza maagizo ya mapema! Kwa kuongezea, kumtia moyo mpendwa wako kukamilisha maagizo ya mapema, unapaswa pia kufikiria jambo hilo. Pia, angalia stack yetu juu ya Fomu za Kisheria. Hakuna maudhui katika programu hii, bila kujali tarehe, lazima kutumika kama mbadala wa ushauri wowote wa kisheria unaopokea kutoka kwa mwanasheria wako au wataalamu wengine wa kisheria. Vivyo hivyo, hakuna yaliyomo katika programu hii, bila kujali tarehe, inapaswa kutumika kama mbadala wa ushauri wa moja kwa moja wa matibabu kutoka kwa daktari wako au daktari mwingine wa kliniki.