Advance Directives & Healthcare POA

An advance directive is a legal document that records your healthcare preferences if you become unable to communicate them. It typically includes a living will (treatment preferences) and a healthcare proxy (who makes decisions for you). Without one, medical decisions may be made by family members or courts without knowing your wishes.

Requirements vary by state, but most advance directives require your signature witnessed by two individuals who are not your healthcare proxy or beneficiaries. Some states require notarization. Many hospitals, hospices, and state health departments provide free advance directive forms.

No. An advance directive expresses broad preferences for end-of-life care. A DNR (do-not-resuscitate) order is a specific medical order signed by a physician instructing emergency personnel not to perform CPR. The two documents complement each other but are not interchangeable.

Yes. Advance directives can be updated at any time as long as you have decision-making capacity. Destroy old copies, create a new signed and witnessed document, and distribute it to your physician, healthcare proxy, and any hospitals where you receive care.