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Advance directives include legal documentation such as a living will, power of attorney and do not resuscitate (DNR) orders. The directive documents identify who will make decisions if the patient is unable to and who will be involved in their final care.

Types of Advance Directives The living will. Durable power of attorney for health care/Medical power of attorney. POLST (Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment) Do not resuscitate (DNR) orders. Organ and tissue donation.

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.

Duration ? in California there is no automatic time limit on an Advance Directive. Unless you state a specific date when you want your document to expire, your Advance Directive stays in effect until you decide to revoke it.

The form must be signed by two qualified witnesses or acknowledged before a notary public. Give a copy of the signed and completed form to your physician, to any other health care providers you may have, to any health care institution at which you are receiving care, and to any health care agents you have named.

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.

To make valid in California, your Advance Directive must be signed by two witnesses, OR acknowledged before a Notary Public. An Advance Directive lets you have a say about how you want to be treated if you get very sick.

Fact: Most of us have some ambivalence about what we would want because treatment near the end of life can be complicated. Advance health care directives can always be changed if/when your wishes or circumstances change.

All valid Durable Powers of Attorney for Health Care (DPAHC) and Natural Death Act Declarations remain valid. Thus, unless your existing DPAHC has expired you do not have to complete a new Advance Health Care Directive. A DPAHC executed before 1992 has expired and should be replaced.