Chicago Illinois Legal Guide to Advance Directives for Health Care provides comprehensive information and guidance regarding advance directives, which are legal documents that enable individuals to communicate their healthcare preferences and decisions in advance. These directives ensure that individuals' healthcare wishes are respected and followed, especially in situations where they cannot speak for themselves. The guide covers various types of advance directives, including: 1. Living Will: This document allows individuals to specify their preferences for medical treatments or interventions in case they become terminally ill or permanently unconscious. It outlines their choices regarding life-sustaining measures such as resuscitation, ventilator use, and artificial nutrition. 2. Healthcare Power of Attorney: Also known as a healthcare proxy or agent, this directive grants an individual the authority to make healthcare decisions on behalf of the person if they are unable to do so. The chosen agent should be trustworthy and familiar with the individual's values and preferences. 3. Do-Not-Resuscitate (DNR) Order: A DNR order instructs healthcare professionals to withhold resuscitation efforts, such as CPR, in the event of cardiac or respiratory arrest. This directive is specifically for individuals who do not wish to undergo resuscitation measures. 4. Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POST): POST is a medical order that translates a person's healthcare preferences into actionable instructions. It includes specific instructions on treatment limitations, desired interventions, and resuscitation preferences. This document is generally intended for individuals with serious illnesses or frailty. The Chicago Illinois Legal Guide provides step-by-step instructions on how to create, complete, and properly execute these advance directives. It also explains the legal requirements and considerations specific to Chicago and Illinois. Additionally, the guide offers valuable information on how to discuss these decisions with family members, healthcare providers, and legal professionals to ensure everyone is aware of the individual's wishes and can act accordingly. By utilizing the Chicago Illinois Legal Guide to Advance Directives for Health Care, individuals in the Chicago area can have peace of mind knowing their healthcare preferences will be respected and honored, regardless of their ability to communicate or make decisions at a given time. It serves as a comprehensive resource to navigate the legal aspects and create legally sound advance directives that align with an individual's values and beliefs.
Para su conveniencia, debajo del texto en español le brindamos la versión completa de este formulario en inglés. For your convenience, the complete English version of this form is attached below the Spanish version.