Have you thought about what kind of health care you would want at the end of
life? Would you want your family to use life-sustaining procedures such as
mechanical ventilation or artificial nutrition and hydration if you are
terminally ill or if you are in a persistent vegetative state? Would you want
your loved ones agonizing over making life and death decisions for you during a
time of emotional turmoil? By preparing an Advance Health Care Directive, you
can make your own legally binding decisions. One example of an Advance Health
Care Directive is a
Declaration of a Desire
for a Natural Death or Living Will. A Living Will allows you to decide what type of life
sustaining medical treatment you receive when there is no hope of your
recovery.
If you were in an accident that left you unable to make your own health care
decisions or to speak for yourself, who would you want to speak for you and
make your medical decisions? Many times the person who has the authority may
not be the person you would have chosen. A
Health Care Power of Attorney
allows you to appoint someone as your agent to make medical decisions for you
any time you are unable to make your own treatment decisions, not just at the
end of life. You can include special provisions or specific limitations about
any medical treatment. Your agent should be at least 18 and should be a family
member or close friend whom you trust to act in your best interests and make
serious and very important medical decisions for you.
To set up an Advance Health Care Directive, such as a Living Will or a Health
Care Power of Attorney, you can download and complete the forms above for NC
residents1. These forms, along with more information, are available at the NC
Secretary of State's
AHCD Registry
site. The documents should be signed, dated, notarized and witnessed by two
people who are not related to you, not your heirs, and not your health care
providers. You must be at least 18 and of sound mind. Your local branch also
provides notary services for further assistance. You may change or revoke
Advance Health Care Directives at any time by a written and notarized
revocation form. An attorney is not required to set up an Advance Health Care
Directive; however, you may wish to consult an attorney if you have a potential
family conflict or specific legal concern.
Once your documents are prepared, it is important to make them easily
accessible by providing copies and sharing your decisions with your loved ones
and your physician. In addition, you may want to consider filing your documents
with the NC Secretary of State's Advance Health Care Directives Registry.
Although registration is not required, for a small fee, the registry service
makes your documents readily available online to health care providers such as
hospital and emergency physicians. Your Credit Union along with the NC
Secretary of State's office is happy to provide forms for your use in
establishing your Advance Health Care Directives.
Questions about Advance Health Care Directives may be answered by consulting an
attorney or other agencies that specialize in end of life choices and issues.
The material above is intended to be accurate; however, consultation with
appropriate professionals for assistance is recommended.
