This Statutory Living Will form allows you to express your wishes and desires if it is determined that your death will occur whether or not life-sustaining procedures are utilized and where the application of life-sustaining procedures would serve only to artificially prolong the dying process. It is a declaration that such procedures be withheld or withdrawn, and that you be permitted to die naturally with only the administration of medication or the performance of any medical procedure deemed necessary to provide you with comfortable care. This form contains an optional provision for appointing a surrogate to make health care decisions for you according to your stated wishes if you are unable to do so yourself. A health care surrogate is the equivalent of an agent under a health care power of attorney. The surrogate/agent may consent to, or withdraw consent for, any medical procedure, treatment or intervention.
A Louisville Kentucky Statutory Health Care Directive, also known as a Living Will or Advance Directive, is a legal document that allows individuals to communicate their preferences regarding medical treatment in the event they become unable to make decisions for themselves. It is designed to ensure that a person's wishes and values concerning healthcare are respected and followed. In Kentucky, the statutory health care directive provides several essential elements: 1. Declaration of Desire for Natural Death: The document includes a statement expressing an individual's desire to have life-sustaining treatment withheld or withdrawn when the person has a terminal condition or is in a persistent vegetative state. 2. Specific Instructions: These are detailed instructions about the desired medical treatments and interventions an individual may want or refuse in specific situations, such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), mechanical ventilation, artificial nutrition and hydration, or pain management. 3. Appointing a Health Care Surrogate: Individuals may name a trusted person, known as a health care surrogate, to make healthcare decisions on their behalf when they are incapable of doing so. 4. Witnesses and Notarization: The document must be signed by two witnesses who are not related to the person, healthcare providers, or employees of the healthcare facility. Notarization may also be required for validity. 5. Storage and Accessibility: It is important to keep the original document in a safe but accessible place and to provide copies to the designated surrogate, healthcare providers, and family members. Apart from the general statutory health care directive, there are additional types individuals in Louisville, Kentucky, may consider: 1. Psychiatric Advance Directive (PAD): This directive allows individuals with mental health conditions to outline their preferences for treatment during a mental health crisis when they may be unable to make decisions for themselves. 2. Physician Orders for Scope of Treatment (POST): While not strictly a living will, POST is a medical order that translates a person's preferences for life-sustaining treatment, resuscitation, and hospitalization into a healthcare provider's orders. 3. Do Not Resuscitate (DNR): Although not part of the statutory health care directive, individuals who do not want cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) performed on them can obtain a separate DNR order from a licensed healthcare professional. Creating a Louisville Kentucky Statutory Health Care Directive or Living Will is a proactive step towards ensuring that your healthcare wishes are known and respected. It is advisable to seek legal counsel or use reputable online resources specific to Kentucky to ensure your document complies with local laws and regulations.A Louisville Kentucky Statutory Health Care Directive, also known as a Living Will or Advance Directive, is a legal document that allows individuals to communicate their preferences regarding medical treatment in the event they become unable to make decisions for themselves. It is designed to ensure that a person's wishes and values concerning healthcare are respected and followed. In Kentucky, the statutory health care directive provides several essential elements: 1. Declaration of Desire for Natural Death: The document includes a statement expressing an individual's desire to have life-sustaining treatment withheld or withdrawn when the person has a terminal condition or is in a persistent vegetative state. 2. Specific Instructions: These are detailed instructions about the desired medical treatments and interventions an individual may want or refuse in specific situations, such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), mechanical ventilation, artificial nutrition and hydration, or pain management. 3. Appointing a Health Care Surrogate: Individuals may name a trusted person, known as a health care surrogate, to make healthcare decisions on their behalf when they are incapable of doing so. 4. Witnesses and Notarization: The document must be signed by two witnesses who are not related to the person, healthcare providers, or employees of the healthcare facility. Notarization may also be required for validity. 5. Storage and Accessibility: It is important to keep the original document in a safe but accessible place and to provide copies to the designated surrogate, healthcare providers, and family members. Apart from the general statutory health care directive, there are additional types individuals in Louisville, Kentucky, may consider: 1. Psychiatric Advance Directive (PAD): This directive allows individuals with mental health conditions to outline their preferences for treatment during a mental health crisis when they may be unable to make decisions for themselves. 2. Physician Orders for Scope of Treatment (POST): While not strictly a living will, POST is a medical order that translates a person's preferences for life-sustaining treatment, resuscitation, and hospitalization into a healthcare provider's orders. 3. Do Not Resuscitate (DNR): Although not part of the statutory health care directive, individuals who do not want cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) performed on them can obtain a separate DNR order from a licensed healthcare professional. Creating a Louisville Kentucky Statutory Health Care Directive or Living Will is a proactive step towards ensuring that your healthcare wishes are known and respected. It is advisable to seek legal counsel or use reputable online resources specific to Kentucky to ensure your document complies with local laws and regulations.