If you are thinking of getting your healthcare directive, do not waste time thinking it might be too early. According to research, almost thirty-six percent of Americans have advanced medical directives. There is no better time for you to get a future health will if you are planning on doing it. The future of the health industry may not be like the present is since this is a very volatile industry. It is common for people suffering from chronic diseases to get advance directives, but even a normal healthy person can have it. For anyone, the process of making essential personal decisions is essential. The power of the attorney and the living will are the two primary advance directives. The two directives come into play when a patient is not able to act as they ensure that medical guidelines have been submitted.
Through your medical proxy, the power of the attorney aims at ensuring that the instruction is followed to the latter. When an unexpected situation comes up, the selected person is the one to take care of your requests. The person could be a person who meets the state’s healthcare agent representative, someone outside your medical care team, a trusted advocate who can handle any disagreements, a person willing you can discuss the end of life issues with or a person who can adhere to your wishes and values. It may be difficult, but it should not worry you as you could pick a family member, spouse or friend as they can make great health agents.
A living will is a term referring to any written document explaining what should be done in the medical sense when faced with an end of life situation. They also have specifications about preferences for organ donations, pain management and crucial medical decisions. You are advised to put your value first when writing a living will. Give details about the situations under which you want to stay alive and those that you do not want to and if you will consider any treatment to keep you alive. Make sure you assess all life situations and include potential end of life care decisions.
In case of dialysis is needed, make sure you explain whether you would like to have waste removed from your body and for how long. You can also save the health agent from confusion in future if you add details about organ and tissue donations. Explain if you would like to have organs donated to you in case of a life-threatening condition or if you would like to donate an organ while under life support treatment.