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Under Illinois state laws, advance directives are recognized
instructions related to the kind of healthcare you would like
to receive, if you are unable to communicate those desires.
Advance directives provide you with the ability to have your
wishes carried out if you become medically incapable of making
or communicating your own decisions.
Why Do I Need An Advance
Directive?
Important Questions
Facts About The Power of Attorney
for Health Care
Illinois Statutory Short Form Power
of Attorney for Health Care
Facts about Living Wills
Illinois Living Will Declaration
Facts About Organ Donation
Definitions
You are injured in a serious car accident and knocked unconscious.
When you arrive at the emergency room, your doctor determines
that you are paralyzed and unable to speak, and in order to
survive, you need a mechanical ventilator to allow you to
breath normally. For personal reasons, you have objected to
these kind of procedures in the past. Now that you cannot
voice your objection, how can you make sure that your wishes
will be protected?
You are being treated in a hospital for a terminal cancer
that has eliminated your ability to speak. Your condition
worsens and your heart stops working. With no specific instructions,
the hospital staff will perform cardio-pulmonary resuscitation
even though you would rather they did not. How can you make
your objections known?
You are residing with a condition of Alzheimer’s Disease
in a nursing home. The disease causes you to be confused and
disoriented. Your health condition takes a turn for the worse
and your doctor decides that you must be fed through a tube.
Without the tube, you will die, and with it you will only
live for a short time. If it were up to you, you would have
the tube removed, but you cannot communicate this information
to anyone. Who will make the appropriate medical decision
for you?
You have a right to make your own choices regarding medical
treatment, both now and for the future. Modern medical
treatments have allowed severely ill and disabled patients
to live prolonged lives through the use of advanced medical
equipment. In fact, many medical treatments have been developed
for the sole purpose of prolonging your life. These improvements
in medicine have raised many complex questions regarding the
quality of life, and the rights of you and your family to
make decisions as to whether such extraordinary treatments
should be used, or if used, should be continued.
Before a crisis occurs, you can communicate your wishes regarding
life-sustaining procedures through a method called "advance
directives." Under Illinois state laws, advance directives
are recognized instructions related to the kind of health
care provided to you under specific conditions, if in the
future you are unable to communicate your desires regarding
medical treatment. Advance directives provide you with
the ability to have your wishes carried out if you become
medically incapable of making or communicating your own decisions.
Advance directives allow you to participate in your own
medical care. For example, advance directives can allow
you to choose the type of medical treatment you wish to receive
or refuse, or the name of the provider of the care such as
doctors, nurses, or home health aides. Additionally, advance
directives can also allow you to decide who will have access
to your medical records, or who will make your decisions for
you in the event you are unable to do so.
Illinois state law has established two standard advance directives,
one is called a "Power of Attorney for Health Care"
and the other is called a "Living Will." Through an
Illinois Power of Attorney for Health Care, you authorize
a family member or close friend who knows your wishes to make
healthcare decisions on your behalf if you are incapable of
doing so yourself. With an Illinois Living Will you provide
specific written instructions to your doctor and other health
care providers about the care that you want in the event you
have a terminal illness or injury.
The procedures for completing an appropriate advance directive,
whether you chose a Living Will or a Power of Attorney for
Health Care, are simple, and their existence may prove to
be a benefit to you, your family, and your medical providers.
Advance directives must be filled out while you are a competent
adult and are capable of making your own decisions. The directions
that you give now will provide instructions about your medical
wishes to your doctor, family members or close friends if
in the future you are no longer able to communicate those
wishes yourself.
The following instructions and advance directive forms (Living
Will and Power of Attorney for Health Care) have been written
to help guide you through a very personal decision. You may
make the instructions on these forms as specific or as general
as you see fit. These are very individual and important decisions.
Thus, before you complete one of the enclosed forms, please
read the instructions and guides carefully, and consider your
wishes so that someone else will not have to decide on your
health care for you without your guidance and instruction
The information and forms contained in this guide are
based on Illinois law and practice as of September 1995.
A Power of Attorney for Health Care (PAHC) is
a legally enforceable document in which you (the principal)
appoint someone that you know well and trust (the agent) to
make health care decisions for you if are unable to make them
for yourself. If a situation arises in which you cannot communicate
your health care wishes, your agent can make the appropriate
decisions as you would have made if you were able.
The Power of Attorney for Health Care is a very
flexible document. You may give your agent full authority
to make any health care decisions you could make, if you were
able; or you can fill out the forms so that your agent may
only make specific decisions regarding your health care. You
have the authority to state in the PAHC both the types of
treatments that you want, as well as the treatments that you
wish to refuse. Because the powers that you bestow on a person
in a PAHC are so important, you should choose your agent very
wisely.
A Living Will is a statement written to your doctor that
declares your wish to forego specific life-sustaining treatments
should your doctor diagnose your health condition as "terminal."
A Living Will declaration sends a clear message to your doctor
that no extraordinary lifesaving measures should be taken
if your death is imminent, and that any treatments or procedures
that are performed on you would only be death-delaying. This
written statement allows you to control your own health care
even if you are incapable of communicating with your caregivers.
Since many treatments and procedures could be considered death-delaying,
your Living Will should be as specific as possible about which
procedures you wish to avoid. For example, should you have
a heart attack, you can instruct your caregivers through your
Living Will not to perform cardio-pulmonary resuscitation
(CPR) to revive you. Additionally, you should always make
your preferences known in writing about receiving food and
liquids artificially administered through tubes.
A Living Will is a specific instruction to your doctor which
informs him or her that you wish to forego life-sustaining
treatments only if your health condition has been medically
diagnosed as "terminal." The Power of Attorney for Health
Care appoints an agent to make decisions for you as they come
up if you are unable to make them yourself. This ability to
select an agent allows your agent to address health care occasions
which arise in unexpected, non-terminal situations. For example,
if you are unconscious after suffering a heart attack, and
medical decisions need to be made, you can select a person
of your choice to make these decisions for you.
In a Living Will, your instructions are written directly
to your physician and no one can change these instructions,
whatever the circumstances, unless you do. With a Power of
Attorney for Health Care, the decisions that are made about
your medical care are left to the discretion of your agent,
if you are unable, based on his or her understanding of your
wishes.
Is it necessary to complete both a Power of Attorney for
Health Care and a Living Will?
No. In Illinois, there is no requirement for completing both
a Living Will and a Power of Attorney for Health Care, but
in some circumstances, there may be a benefit to executing
both of these documents. A Living Will does not depend on
any person, so if the agent of your PAHC is unavailable, your
Living Will can be used as a backup statement of your wishes
should your medical condition be deemed "terminal." While
it is true that any decision that can be made through a Living
Will can be made by your agent, what if your agent is unwilling
to follow your wishes? In this case, your "power" would be
lost and decisions may be made that do not comply with your
wishes. With both advance directives completed, you can be
more assured that your wishes will be observed.
In a Living Will, a "terminal" condition refers to an incurable
and irreversible condition where death is "imminent" and the
use of death-delaying procedures will only prolong the moment
of death. An individual’s attending physician has the authority
to declare a person's health condition as "terminal" when
he or she assesses the imminence of death as though life-sustaining
treatments did not exist.
In most states, the laws about recognizing advance directives
signed in another state are not very clear. At a minimum,
an advance directive can be used as evidence of your wishes.
It would be a good idea to avoid confusion by completing a
new advance directive in any new state that you move into.
If you happen to be traveling to another state when a hospitalization
occurs, you should carry a wallet card that indicates that
you have signed an advance directive, and how to get in touch
with your agent. If you live in different states during different
times of the year, you may want to consider completing an
advance directive following the legal requirement of the state
you are in.
A "Do Not Resuscitate" or "DNR" order is an instruction
from a doctor to a health care provider to refrain from performing
life-sustaining cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on people
who have heart or lung failure. Without a DNR order from
a physician, CPR will be performed. A doctor can order
a DNR based on either the word of an agent acting on a Power
of Attorney for Health Care or a Living Will containing the
stated wishes of the patient. Sometimes a DNR is referred
to as a "no code."
No. The state of Illinois does not require you to obtain
a lawyer to complete either the Power of Attorney for Health
Care or the Living Will. If, after reviewing all of the information
regarding advance directives, you still have questions, contacting
a lawyer may provide you with guidance and may indeed protect
your interests. Occasionally, the language that you may choose
to use on your advance directive may be complex, and a lawyer
may be able to assist you in the preparation of either a Power
of Attorney for Health Care or a Living Will.
The clearest benefit of the Power of Attorney for Health
Care is its flexibility. This document is not limited to terminal
illnesses only. Rather, it addresses all health care situations
and decisions based on how you define your wishes to your
agent. Not only can the PAHC cover life-prolonging procedures,
but it can also cover extraordinary health care decisions
in the event you are unable to express your wishes.
For example if you are knocked unconscious in an accident
and need surgery, your PAHC can authorize your agent to make
the appropriate decisions for you. The ability to select an
agent for these unexpected situations gives you a good amount
of control over your own health and life.
Under Illinois law. your agent must be over the age of 18
who is capable of making decisions for you. In choosing an
agent, you should consider a person who you trust to know
your values, religious beliefs, and preferences about medical
treatments. It is important to choose an individual whom you
feel will respond to your wishes under difficult circumstances.
This person may be a close friend, a spiritual advisor, a
spouse, an adult child, or a relative. If you choose a friend
to act as your agent, their opinion will be sought instead
of any family members. Your attending doctor or any other
health care provider cannot be your agent if he or she is
treating you, unless they are related to you.
Research studies have found that only a small percentage
of people actually discuss specific instructions or general
wishes with their agents. Because all people have different
life experiences, values, and knowledge, it is essential that
you discuss your values and wishes regarding health care with
your agent. Before you decide on an agent, you should be
sure that this person is willing to act on your wishes rather
than their own. Also, you should consider naming another
person to serve as an alternate agent in the event that your
first choice would later become unable or unwilling to serve
as your health care agent.
In Illinois, any person who is 18 years of age or older
may complete a Power of Attorney for Health Care. The PAHC
forms that follow these instructions can be filled out and
used as legal documents. These forms are not mandatory.
Any form that contains the following points can be used to
grant another person the authority to make health care decisions
for you in the event you are incapacitated. A PAHC must include:
- A statement that the agent can make health care decisions
for you in the event you are deemed incapacitated
- A signature and effective date
- A designated agent
- Any limitations on the agents power, if any
- A signature and address of a witness
- In Illinois, the PAHC does not need to be notarized
When you appoint a health care agent, you give that person
the ability to make a wide variety of decisions regarding
all of your health care and treatment needs in the event that
you are incapacitated. Unless you include any limitations
in your PAHC, the document gives your agent the authority
to grant, refuse, or withdraw consent to the provision of
any health care service, treatment or procedure in accordance
with his or her understanding of what you want. This would
include the right to authorize the withholding or withdrawal
of life-sustaining treatments.
In addition to authorizing the withholding or withdrawal
of life-sustaining treatments, your agent also is given authority
by the PAHC to sign consent forms; review your medical records;
select and discharge health care professionals, make decisions
about admission to or discharge from health care facilities;
to contract for all types of health care services and facilities
for you; and to direct what happens to your body after death.
It is important to remember to openly discuss with your
agent what your wishes are regarding your own health care.
Furthermore, it is a good idea to specifically write your
wishes regarding the withdrawal or withholding of life-sustaining
treatments on your PAHC.
A Power of Attorney for Health Care document becomes "valid"
when it is voluntarily written, completed while you are of
sound mind, signed, and any special conditions of validation
are completed. However, you will always continue to make your
own health care decisions while you are capable of making
your own choices. Only if you later become incapable of making
your own decisions will your PAHC be "activated." Your caregiver
in cooperation with your attending doctor and the person you
appoint as your agent are responsible for deciding whether
or not your PAHC should be activated. Once your Illinois Health
Care Power of Attorney has been activated, your health care
agent must then assume the decision-making responsibilities
associated with your care.
Once I have completed my Power of Attorney for Health
Care, do I have any special responsibilities?
Your main responsibility once you have completed your PAHC
is to make sure that the appropriate people are aware of its
existence, and that the document is accessible. It is important
that you inform your doctor and your health care agent about
your wishes in the event that you become incapacitated. Without
specifying your wishes on your PAHC or to the person you appoint
as your agent, decisions may be made differently than you
intended. You should provide a copy of the document to your
doctor and your agent; and place the document in a safe and
accessible place, until it is needed. You should also give
copies to other people of your choosing, such as trusted relatives,
friends, lawyers, and/or staff of the health care facility
where you are a patient or resident.
Yes. Under Illinois law, you may cancel or update your Power
of Attorney for Health Care, regardless of your mental or
physical condition. The document may be canceled in several
ways: by destruction of the document, written revocation,
or oral revocation. Basically, all that you need to do to
cancel your PAHC is to tear up the document or tell one of
your caregivers that you have changed your mind with regards
to your advance directive. If you change your mind about specific
issues included in your Power of Attorney for Health Care,
you may update the document at any time in writing.
How should I fill out the enclosed Illinois Power of Attorney
for Health Care?
Before completing the enclosed Power of Attorney for Health
Care document, you should remove it from this booklet, or
photocopy the pages. The enclosed PAHC comes from the state
of Illinois, and it can be completed without a lawyer or a
notary.
Under section one (1) of the document, you need to
enter your name and address as well as the name and address
of your appointed agent.
Section two (2) of the document allows you to give
specific directions about your desires to your appointed agent
If you write "no limitations" under section two (2) of the
PAHC, your agent will have authority to make all legal health
care decisions. Additionally, under section two (2) you may
initial one of the choices regarding life sustaining treatments.
If the statements regarding life-sustaining treatments do
not satisfy you, or are not specific enough, you may write
your own statement on the above limitation lines. For example,
you may wish to state:
"If my doctor declares that I am incapacitated, my wish
is that life-sustaining treatments, services and procedures,
including artificial nutrition and hydration be withheld or
withdrawn;" or,
"If my doctor declares that I am incapacitated, my wish
is that my life be protected with the use of life-sustaining
treatments, services, and procedures, no matter what the costs."
Additionally under this section, you have the option of discussing
your wishes regarding amputations, blood transfusions, chemotherapy,
transplants, and autopsies.
Sections three and four (3 and 4) of the PAHC allow
you to choose when the document will become effective and
when it will expire. If you write "none" for each paragraph,
the PAHC will become effective at the time it is signed and
continues beyond your death, unless you limit the powers of
your agent to authorize autopsies or organ donations. You
can assure that your agent will not authorize autopsies or
organ donations by stating that the PAHC will terminate at
the time of your death.
Under section five (5), you should be sure to include
the name of at least one person to act as a successor agent,
in the event that your primary agent is not available or is
unwilling to act on your behalf. If you do not want your agent
to be able to act as your guardian, you should cross out section
six (6). Finally, before you and your witness sign the
document under section seven (7), you should review
all of the information carefully and make sure that you have
clearly expressed your wishes.
Click here to print out the "Illinois Statutory Short Form
Power of Attorney for Health Care"
The most effective way to assure that your
health care wishes are carried out according to your instructions
is to make them yourself. This can be done through a Living
Will. A Living Will is a direct instruction from you to
your doctor, and cannot be changed by anyone else. By completing
this form, you will not be dependent on another person to
make your health care decisions for you. If you are not
absolutely sure that another person will react, decide, or
want to decide as you would have in similar situations, then
a Living Will is the most effective method to assure that
your wishes are followed.
However, you cannot always predict every
single circumstance in advance. A Living Will only covers
circumstances which you specify in the document. Additionally,
a Living Will becomes effective only after your doctor diagnoses
your health condition as "terminal." So a Living
Will does not cover situations you cannot predict or when
your condition may not be "terminal." For those
situations, a Power of Attorney for Health Care offers great
flexibility by giving responsibility to someone you know and
trust to make those decisions for you.
Included in this package is a sample Living
Will declaration that you can complete after removing from
the booklet or after photocopying. In Illinois, to complete
a Living Will, three simple conditions must be met. First,
you must be of sound mind and over the age of 18 or have obtained
the status of an emancipated minor. Second, you must sign
and date the Living Will, or have someone else, at your request
and in your presence, sign and date the Living Will if you
are unable to write. Third, you must sign and date the Living
Will in the presence of at least two witnesses who are at
least 18 years of age or older.
Although a valid Living Will becomes effective
immediately, it is important to understand that as long
as you remain capable of giving instructions regarding your
medical treatment decisions, your wishes must be followed
by your doctor and other health care providers. In order
for your Living Will to become "activated," all
of the following conditions must be met. First,
you must be unable to make your own health care decisions.
Second, you must be examined by your doctor, and he
or she must certify in writing that you have been diagnosed
as having a terminal condition. Third, and finally,
your doctor must determine that the use of the use of life-sustaining
procedures and treatments will serve only to postpone the
moment of death rather than lead to recovery.
Yes. You can revoke a Living Will at any
time, regardless of your mental condition. Revocation of a
Living Will can be accomplished by several methods. You may
cancel the Living Will by a physical act, such as tearing,
burning, defacing or otherwise destroying the document. A
signed and dated statement written by you or a person acting
at your express direction may be produced to indicate that
your intent regarding your original Living Will has changed.
Additionally, you may verbally express your intent to revoke
your Living Will document in the presence of a witness (18
years of age or older) who signs and dates a written document
that confirms your intent to revoke your Living Will. No matter
which method you wish to use to revoke your Living Will, you
are responsible to make sure that all individuals who have
a copy of your Living Will, especially your attending physician,
are promptly notified of your decision to revoke or change
your Living Will.
Once you have completed your Living Will,
you have several responsibilities. First, you should inform
your doctor that you have completed the document, and provide
him or her with a copy for your medical records. Second, you
should notify several family members and friends that you
have filled out a Living Will, and tell them where you have
it stored. Finally, if at all possible, bring a copy of your
Living Will with you if you have a need to be admitted to
a hospital, nursing home or other health care facility.
Your doctor is obligated to include your
Living Will in your medical record, and follow the directions
contained within as closely as possible, even if your family
disagrees. Also, your doctor must make a written record of
his or her diagnosis of your terminal condition so that your
Living Will may be enforced. If your doctor, for whatever
reason, cannot follow the directions in your Living Will,
and you are unable to initiate a transfer to another doctor,
he or she must be willing to notify any person that you have
authorized to make health care decisions, a guardian of your
person, or any member of your family and assist in transferring
you to another doctor who will comply with the Living Will.
Of course, this problem can be avoided simply by talking to
your doctor prior to completing your Living Will and making
sure he or she will comply with your wishes.
The Living Will that is included in this
booklet defines "death-delaying procedures" as any
medical procedure or intervention which would only serve to
postpone the moment of death. This death-delaying procedure
does not include food or liquids artificially administered
through a tube. If you wish to have artificial nutrition
and hydration removed from your treatment plan under your
Living Will, you must state this as a special instruction.
Additionally, any other specific instruction that you wish
to include can be provided for under the section in the Living
Will called "special instructions." Examples of
some "special instructions" may include:
If my doctor diagnoses my heath condition as terminal, I
wish to forego or discontinue all death delaying procedures,
including artificial nutrition and hydration;" or, "If
my doctor diagnoses my health condition as terminal; I wish
to forgo life-sustaining treatments, but, I wish for artificial
nutrition and hydration to be continued."
Click here to print out the
"Illinois Living Will Declaration" form
Why is organ donation so important?
According to the Illinois Secretary of State, between
8 and 10 people die in the United States each day while
waiting for an organ or tissue transplant. Additionally,
every 30 minutes, someone is added to a waiting list in
need of a transplant. However, a single organ donor can
save or help up to 25 people in need, and everyday medical
technology makes these medical procedures more and more
successful. In Illinois alone, more than 1700 people need
a life-saving transplant. The Secretary of State has helped
to develop one of the few existing organ/tissue donor
registries as well as a successful registration drive
that has increased organ donations by 50 percent. But,
there are still people who need your help.
Should I include organ donation information on my
Living Will or Power of Attorney for Health Care?
Yes. Any expression of your wishes regarding your health
care, even after your death, should be clearly explained in
a valid advance directive. Including information regarding
organ donation in a Living Will or Power of Attorney for Health
Care will increase the chances that your wishes will be followed.
While it is true that all you need to do to become an organ
donor is to sign an organ donor card (on the back of your
driver’s license), having your wishes clearly written on an
advance directive will increase the chance that your health
care provider will be aware of those wishes.
How can I become a donor?
First, tell your family or other persons authorized
to make your health care decisions. Hospitals, nursing
homes and other health care providers require an authorized
individual to give consent before an organ/tissue donation
can occur.
Second, sign the back of your Illinois driver’s
license or ID card with a ball-point pen. You may sign
directly over the plastic covering of the card. It is
important that you are witnessed by two people and that
they sign your driver’s license or ID card as well.
Additionally, it is a good idea to specify, in writing,
your wishes regarding organ donation on your Living
Will or Power of Attorney for Health Care.
Third, participate in the Illinois organ/tissue donor
registry. You may sign up by visiting an Illinois Drivers
Services facility, or by contacting the Secretary of State’s
office at (217) 785-1444. Joining the registry does not replace
the signatures on the back of your driver’s license, thus
it is important that you complete all three steps to officially
become a donor.
How does the donation process work?
Before the donation/transplantation process begins, state
and federal laws require hospitals to seek consent from
an authorized individual for all potential donors. The
National Transplant Act of 1984 established full and equal
access to donated organs and tissues for all potential
recipients. A national computer system will match gifts
to receivers on the basis of need and availability. Since
an authorized individual’s consent is required for all
organ donations, it is vital that you share your decision
with your family or other persons authorized to make your
health care decisions.
After the donation process has been completed, a person
may make any burial arrangements including cremation or
a traditional, open casket funeral. Organ donation does
not alter the appearance of the body. Although there is
no cost to the donor family for donating organs or tissues,
the estate is still responsible for all costs associated
with the funeral and burial.
How should I indicate my desire to become an organ donor
on My Living Will or Power of Attorney for Health Care?
By simply stating that you want to be an organ donor
on your advance directive will reflect your wishes to
your health care provider. If you wish, you may indicate
which specific organs you want to donate. Organs suitable
for transplantation include heart, lungs, kidneys, liver
and pancreas. Tissues include skin, bone marrow, corneas,
and heart valves. Of course, you can donate any or all
of your organs by stating that you wish to donate "any
or all of my acceptable organs." Remember, in
addition to expressing your wishes on an advance directive,
you must also complete an organ donor card on the back
of your Illinois driver’s license or ID card.
Can I Change My Mind?
Yes. If your driver’s license or state ID card is signed
on the back, simply write VOID across the organ donor section
or put an X through the signature. If you have signed up for
the organ/tissue registry, call or write with your intention
to be removed from the list. Ultimately, the decision will
be made by your next-of-kin, regardless of a signed donor
card. Therefore, it is important that you notify you family
of your intentions.
Adult -- means a person who is 18 years of age or
older, or who is an emancipated minor under the Illinois Emancipation
of Mature Minors Act.
Artificial nutrition and hydration -- means supplying
food and liquid through a conduit, such as a tube or intravenous
line, where the recipient is not required to chew or swallow
voluntarily, including, but not limited to, naso-gastric tubes,
gastronomies, and intravenous infusions. Artificial nutrition
and hydration does not include assisted feeding such as spoon
or bottle feeding.
Agent --means the person designated in your Power
of Attorney for Health Care to make decisions on your behalf
in the event you become incapacitated. This person is sometimes
referred to as the "attorney-in-fact."
Attending doctor -- means the Illinois licensed physician
selected by you as person primarily responsible for your care.
If more than one doctor is sharing this responsibility, by
law, any one of them may act as the attending doctor.
Cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) -- means the
various medical technologies used to restore blood circulation
and breathing to a person who has suffered a heart attack
or respiratory failure.
Close friend --means any person over the age of 18
who has exhibited special care and concern for you. You must
present to your doctor a written statement that in fact this
person is a close friend, that you remain in close contact,
and that they are willing to make health care decisions for
you.
Do not resuscitate (DNR) -- means an order given
by your physician and placed in your medical record to withhold
cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Also is known as a "no
code."
Death-delaying procedure -- means any treatments
or procedures that are used to keep a person alive who would
otherwise die within a short, but uncertain, amount of time.
Sometimes is referred to as life-sustaining treatments.
Forego life-sustaining treatment -- means to withhold,
withdraw or end all or any portion of life-sustaining treatments,
with the knowledge that death is likely to result. Forgoing
life-sustaining treatments does not include the withholding
or withdrawal of artificial nutrition and hydration unless
it is specifically requested by you in your Living Will or
by your agent.
Guardian -- means a court appointed guardian of the
person who serves as a representative of a minor or as a representative
of a person under legal disability.
Health care provider -- means any person who is licensed
or certified by the state of Illinois to provide health care.
Health care providers include, but are not limited to, physicians,
nurses, and health care facilities.
Imminent (as in ‘death is imminent’) -- means a
determination by your attending doctor that death will occur
in a relatively short time even if life-sustaining treatments
are initiated or continued.
Life-sustaining treatments -- see death-delaying
procedures.
Living Will -- means an advance directive document
which states your views about the use of life-sustaining treatments
when you are no longer capable of making your own health care
decisions.
Persistent vegetative state -- means a state of
permanent unconsciousness that is irreversible. Patients in
this condition may live for a long period of time as long
as they are fed and given water artificially. Often, this
condition takes six months or more to diagnose. Generally,
a persistent vegetative state is considered a terminal condition.
Power of Attorney for Health Care -- means an advance
directive document in which you (the principal) empower a
relative or close friend (the agent) to make health care decisions
for you in the event that you become incapacitated. It may
also be referred to as a "durable power of attorney for
health care."
Principal -- means the person (you) who signs a Power
of Attorney for Health Care and gives the power to make health
care decisions to an agent (your relative or close friend).
The principal must sign the Power of Attorney for Health Care
while still capable of making competent decisions.
Respirator -- means a mechanical device that uses
a tube through the nose or throat to assist in breathing.
Sometimes referred to as a "ventilator."
Terminal condition -- means an incurable and irreversible
condition in which death is imminent and the use of death-delaying
procedures would serve to only prolong the moment of death
rather than lead to recovery.
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