Advance Medical Directives Directory
An advance medical directive is paperwork you fill out to detail what medical care you do and do not want should anything happen to you. It explains to your family and doctor how to proceed if you cannot tell them yourself. A living will explains what care you want, and a power of attorney places one person in charge of treatment decisions for you. That person becomes your health care agent (health care proxy). You should note whether you want to receive treatments such as CPR, breathing machine, feeding tube, and more. Follow the links below to find WebMD's comprehensive coverage about how advance medical directives work, how to begin writing one, how to choose a health care proxy, and more.
Medical Reference
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Living With More Than One Health Problem-Making Your Wishes Known
When you have many health problems,serious problems can come up. With them come hard decisions. For example,you might have to decide whether or not to use a ventilator or whether you want to continue treatment. It's best to be prepared in advance. Write down what treatment you want or don't want,and find someone who can speak up for you in the event that you can't. This will make things ...
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Choosing a Hospital-Topic Overview
This may sound obvious, but the best time to choose a hospital is when you don't need one. That way you have the time to compare all the hospitals in your area and think about what your preferences are.One local hospital may have an emergency room with a great reputation. But the hospital across town may have a better reputation for hip surgery. In other words, you might choose one hospital for emergencies and another hospital for other treatment.So it's a good idea to do some research and find out what hospital is best for you, whether you're planning to have surgery, you have a serious health condition that could require future hospital treatment, you're planning to give birth, or you just want to be prepared.What are the different types of hospitals?There are many kinds of hospitals, large and small. Some are run by nonprofit organizations or charities. Some are public hospitals, which means they are funded by taxes. And some are run by corporations, whose investors get some of
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Advance Directive: What to Include-Topic Overview
A living will and a medical power of attorney are types of advance directives. These forms describe the kinds of medical care you want to receive if you're badly hurt or have a serious illness that keeps you from saying what you want. A medical power of attorney lets you name a person to be your health care agent. He or she can make decisions for you if you can't speak for yourself. Forms are ...
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Choosing a Health Care Agent-When a Health Care Agent Is Needed
Someone will have to make medical decisions for you if you become unable to communicate or lose decision - making abilities. By selecting a health care agent in advance, you grant the person you want to make these decisions the legal right to do so. This helps avoid uncertainty, conflict, and stress for your loved ones during a time that is likely to already be difficult for them. Also, it ensures
Features
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Florida Case Spotlights the Need for Advance Directives
Experts Urge Family Members to Discuss Their Wishes for End-of-Life
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Making Your Last Wishes Known
Making Your Last Wishes Known
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Preparing an Advance Directive
Writing a living will and other end-of-life documents ensures your final days will be lived with dignity.
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Making Your Last Wishes Known
Laws in every state have made it clear: You have the fundamental right to make a decision in advance about whether to accept or refuse medical treatment if you become gravely ill.