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If no court-appointed guardian or durable power of attorney exists, a spouse is responsible for medical decisions related to end-of-life care. If there is no spouse or that person is unwilling or unable to make the decisions, adult children are consulted, then parents, and, finally, any nearest relative.

INTRODUCTION TO YOUR KENTUCKY ADVANCE HEALTH CARE DIRECTIVE This packet contains a Kentucky Living Will Directive (or ?Advance Directive?), which protects your right to refuse medical treatment you do not want or to request treatment you do want in the event you lose the ability to make decisions yourself.

This is a legal form that lets you have a voice in your health care. It will let your family, friends, and medical providers know how you want to be cared for if you cannot speak for yourself. Share this form and your choices with your family, friends, and medical providers.

A power of attorney may be more flexible, since it's impossible to predict all the medical decisions that might come up in the future and spell out your exact preferences for all of these situations. Many states actually combine the living will and power of attorney into one "advance directive" form.

If you are a competent adult, Kentucky law recognizes your right to make a written declaration of your wishes about mental health treatment, specifically electroconvulsive therapy, psychotropic medications and restraint or seclusion.

The Kentucky Office of the Attorney General provides a PDF of an Advance Health Care Directive form in both English and Spanish on their website, linked below. Note that the terminology they use for a Healthcare Proxy is a "Health Care Surrogate". The form should be signed by two witnesses or notarized.