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An advance directive is used to guide your health care team and loved ones when they need to make these decisions or to decide who will make decisions for you when you can't. These medical decisions might include special actions or emergency care from your health care team.

Advance directives are legal documents that provide instructions for medical care and only go into effect if you cannot communicate your own wishes. The two most common advance directives for health care are the living will and the durable power of attorney for health care.

Problems with Advance Directives Sometimes, people change their minds after expressing advance directives and forget to inform others. Many times, advance directives are too vague to guide clinical decisions.

Advance directives consist of (1) a living will and (2) a medical (healthcare) power of attorney. A living will describes your wishes regarding medical care. With a medical power of attorney you can appoint a person to make healthcare decisions for you in case you are unable to speak for yourself.

-In addition, patient's have a right to have advance directives, such as a living will and durable power of attorney for health care.

Advance directives generally fall into three categories: living will, power of attorney and health care proxy. LIVING WILL: This is a written document that specifies what types of medical treatment are desired. A living will can be very specific or very general.

Living wills and other advance directives are written, legal instructions regarding your preferences for medical care if you are unable to make decisions for yourself.

The most common types of advance directives are the living will and the durable power of attorney for health care (sometimes known as the medical power of attorney).

Generally, decisions about a person's financial and medical management are made according to the laws of the state they live in. In the event of medical incapacitation, usually a family member will be called upon to make any important decisions in the absence of a power of attorney.

What Happens If I Don't Make an Advance Directive? You will receive medical care regardless of whether or not you have an advance directive.If you cannot speak for yourself and do not have an advance directive, a physician will generally look to your family, friends, or clergy for decisions about your care.