This form is provided in the Texas Health and Safety Code and is designed to help you communicate your wishes about medical treatment at some time in the future when you are unable to make your wishes known because of illness or injury. A competent adult may at any time execute a written directive. The directive must be signed by the principal in the presence of two witnesses (who must themselves sign the document). A declarant may include directions in a directive other than those provided in the statutes and may designate a person to make a treatment decision for the declarant in the event the declarant becomes incompetent or otherwise mentally or physically incapable of communication.
The Abilene Texas Statutory Directive to Physicians and Family or Surrogates is an essential legal document that outlines a person's preferences for medical treatment and end-of-life decisions. This directive enables individuals to express their desires regarding life-sustaining treatments and appoint a trusted individual to make medical decisions on their behalf, adhering to the individual's wishes. Living Will provisions are an integral part of the Abilene Texas Statutory Directive to Physicians and Family or Surrogates. A living will is a legal instrument that allows individuals to specify their preferences regarding medical treatments, resuscitation, tube feeding, ventilation, and other life-prolonging procedures. It enables them to outline their choices if they become incapacitated and unable to communicate their preferences personally. The Abilene Texas Statutory Directive to Physicians and Family or Surrogates includes several types of directives, each addressing various aspects of medical decision-making and end-of-life care. These include: 1. Medical Power of Attorney: This directive empowers individuals to appoint a trusted person, known as a healthcare agent or surrogate, to make medical decisions on their behalf when they are unable to do so. The appointed agent should be someone who understands the individual's values, preferences, and beliefs regarding medical treatment. 2. Out-of-Hospital Do-Not-Resuscitate (DNR) Order: This directive allows individuals to request that in the event their heart stops, or they cease to breathe outside a healthcare setting, CPR or other resuscitation measures should not be initiated or continued. 3. Prehospital Medical Care Directive: This directive permits individuals to specify their preferences regarding different medical interventions and procedures, including the provision or withholding of specific treatments during emergency situations before reaching a hospital. 4. Directive to Physicians: The directive to physicians provides individuals with the option to express their preferences regarding the use of life-sustaining treatments, including artificial nutrition and hydration, mechanical ventilation, and other medical interventions. It allows individuals to decide whether they want these treatments administered, continued, or withheld. 5. Declaration for Mental Health Treatment: This directive specifically addresses mental health treatment decisions, allowing individuals to declare their preferences for specific medications, therapy types, and other mental health interventions in the event they become incapacitated due to mental illness. 6. Anatomical Gift Directive: This directive enables individuals to clearly state their intention to donate organs, tissues, or their entire body for transplantation or medical research purposes upon their death, contributing to the advancement of medical science and potentially saving lives. These various directives provided under the Abilene Texas Statutory Directive to Physicians and Family or Surrogates allow individuals to exercise autonomy and ensure that their healthcare decisions align with their personal beliefs and values, even when they are unable to communicate them directly. It is essential for individuals to consult with legal professionals, healthcare providers, and loved ones to create a comprehensive document that accurately reflects their wishes and provides clear guidance to physicians and family members or surrogates.
