Frequently Asked Questions About Advance Directives
Completing advance directives is part of a process called advance care planning. This requires you to make tough decisions about the medical care you would or would not want if you are near the end of your life (terminally ill) or are unconscious and unlikely to wake up again.
- When should I make an advance directive?
- Can I change my mind about what’s in my advance directives?
- What are end-of-life decisions?
- What is a terminal illness?
- What is life-sustaining treatment?
- How will my health care provider know that I have an advance directive?
- Does the health care provider have to follow my advance directive?
- Will my advance directives be used if I am taken to the emergency room?
- What happens if I don't have an advance directive?
- Do I need a lawyer to write my advance directive?
- Where can I get help with my advance directive?
- Can I have an advance directive in more than one state?
- Does having an advance directive affect the quality of the health care I receive?
- Can I have both a living will and a durable power of attorney for health care?
- Is my advance directive valid if I'm at home?
- When should I make an advance directive?
- Can I change my mind about what’s in my advance directives?
- What are end-of-life decisions?
- What is a terminal illness?
- What is life-sustaining treatment?
- How will my health care provider know that I have an advance directive?
- Does the health care provider have to follow my advance directive?
- Will my advance directives be used if I am taken to the emergency room?
- What happens if I don't have an advance directive?
- Do I need a lawyer to write my advance directive?
- Where can I get help with my advance directive?
- Can I have an advance directive in more than one state?
- Does having an advance directive affect the quality of the health care I receive?
- Can I have both a living will and a durable power of attorney for health care?
- Is my advance directive valid if I'm at home?
The best time to make an advance directive is before you need one. In other words, before you become too sick to make your own decisions about what medical care you want to get or refuse.
Yes, you can change your mind at any time about what's written in your advance directive. You can also revoke it (take it back) at any time.
It is recommended that you review your advance directive every so often to make sure your wishes are still the same. For example, you might want to make a change if you have a major health change, a major family change like a divorce, if something happens to your health care proxy or they become unwilling to be your proxy, or if an existing health condition or illness gets worse.
If you change or cancel your advance directive, be sure to let your health care team, loved ones, and your health care proxy know. You will al