As Nurses and healthcare advocates, we understand the significance of empowering individuals to make informed decisions about their medical care, especially when facing critical decisions at the end of life. In this blog post, we delve into the importance of advance directives – a crucial tool that allows individuals to express their wishes regarding end-of-life care and the use of advanced medical interventions.
What are Advance Directives?
Advance directives are legal documents that enable individuals to communicate their preferences for medical treatment in case they become unable to make decisions for themselves. These documents guide healthcare providers and loved ones in respecting the patient’s wishes when navigating complex medical scenarios.
Components of Advance Directives:
- Living Will: Outlines specific medical treatments a person would like to receive or avoid, such as artificial nutrition, resuscitation, or life support.
- Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care: Designates a trusted individual (healthcare proxy) to make medical decisions on the patient’s behalf if they are unable to do so.
The living will
The living will as part of advance directives is a legal document used to state certain future health care decisions only when a person becomes unable to make the decisions and choices on their own. The living will is only used at the end of life if a person is terminally ill (can’t be cured) or permanently unconscious. The living will describes the type of medical treatment the person would want or not want to receive in these situations. It can describe under what conditions an attempt to prolong life should be started or stopped. This applies to treatments including, but not limited to dialysis, tube feedings, or actual life support (such as the use of breathing machines).
There are many things to think about when writing a living will as an advance directive. These include:
- The use of equipment such as dialysis machines (kidney machines) or ventilators (breathing machines) to help keep your client alive.
- Do not resuscitate orders (instructions not to use CPR if breathing or heartbeat stops).
- Client does not want fluid or liquid (usually by IV) and/or food (tube feeding into his/her stomach) if he/she couldn’t eat or drink.
- Client does want treatment for pain, nausea, or other symptoms, even if he/she can’t make other decisions (this may be called comfort care or palliative care).
- Client does not want to donate your organs or other body tissues after death.
The Importance of Having an Advance Directives
- Ensuring Your Client Voice Is Heard: Your clients values and preferences guide medical decisions, even when you can’t communicate them.
- Relieving Burden on Loved Ones: Spares your client’s family from the anguish of making difficult decisions by clearly expressing your wishes in advance.
- Avoiding Unwanted Interventions: Allow clients specify which medical interventions they would like to receive or decline, aligning care with their values.
- Promoting Dignity in Care: Help client maintain control over the kind of care they receive, promoting a more dignified and personalized end-of-life experience.
How to Create Your Advance Directives
- Reflect on Their Values: Consider your clients beliefs, priorities, and what matters most to terms in terms of medical care.
- Consult with Other Healthcare Professionals: Discuss their choices with other healthcare provider to ensure they align with their health condition and available treatment options.
- Communicate with Loved Ones: Help clients share their decisions with family members and loved ones, ensuring they understand their wishes.
- Consult Legal Resources: Help them seek legal advice to ensure your advance directive is properly documented and meets legal requirements in your jurisdiction.
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