Pre Test – Advance Directives

Advance Directives are a method of conveying a patient’s wishes about the medical treatment choices he or she would want at a time when he or she is unable to do so personally.

Advance Directives have been in effect for many decades, dating back to the years of the Depression, when medical treatment was expensive and few people had the financial ability to cover medical expenses.

The patients Self-Determination Act allows a facility to sue if the health care team does not follow the family’s wishes for the care of the terminally ill family member.

The two most common Advance Directives are the Living Will and a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care.

An Advance Directive is like a Will. You must have a lawyer help you complete the paperwork to do it correctly.

You will not need a Living Will if the patient is competent to make his or her own decisions about health care.

If a patient revokes their Living Will after it has been placed on the chart, simply tear it up and throw it away.

The patient’s doctor will make the decision whether or not the patient will be a DNR and the doctor will write the order in the chart regarding the patient’s status. The order is to be followed by all care givers.

The Uniforms Anatomical Gift Act allows an adult of “sound mind and body” to donate all or part of his or her body as a gift that takes upon his or her death.

Some states allow organ donors to have their indication on their driver’s license.