When something unexpected happens, the last thing you want to do is cause more stress to your loved ones. That’s why it’s worth creating an advance directive, which removes any future guesswork or arguments if you cannot communicate those wishes yourself. 

Read on to learn about the different types of advance directives you can deploy, how they work, and how they fit into your overall advance planning.

Key Takeaways

• Advance directives are legally recognized documents that enable patients to tell doctors and loved ones which treatments they do not want if they are unable to communicate their wishes.

• An advance directive is a critical component of healthcare planning because it ensures your wishes are recorded and accessible by all relevant parties to avoid confusion in the future.

• You can change an advance directive, and it’s recommended to review any directives you may have on an annual basis and amend them accordingly.

What Is an Advance Directive?

An advance directive is a legal document patients use to communicate their wishes regarding medical treatment to their respective care providers. 

Using an advance directive makes it easier to ensure a patient’s wishes are honored if they become incapacitated or are otherwise unable to make an informed decision. An advance directive tells doctors and loved ones exactly what you would want if you could express those wishes.

Advance directives can cover and specify any range of treatments you do or do not want to receive. However, you can also use one to appoint someone you trust to make medical decisions on your behalf.

What Types of Advance Directives Are Available?

There are several different types of advance directives worth considering as a medical patient and the right choice for you will depend on a wide range of variables. 

The most common directives you’ll come across are:

• A living will

• A healthcare power of attorney

• Do-not-resuscitate (“DNR”) or do-not-intubate (“DNI”) orders

• A full code directive

A living will is an advance directive you make while you’re alive and of sound mind that specifies how you’d like medical decisions to be made. Living wills might specify that you do not consent to treatments like dialysis, chemotherapy, or tube feeding.

A healthcare power of attorney (or “medical power of attorney”) is an advance directive to appoint someone as your decision-maker. If you get sick or something happens to prevent you from making your own medical decisions, that agent is then authorized to make decisions on your behalf.

A living will and power of attorney may need to be witnessed or notarized depending on the state you live in.

A do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order is a simple advance directive telling doctors you don’t want CPR performed if your heart stops or you’re unable to breathe. A do-not-intubate (DNI) order is a similar type of advance directive telling practitioners you do want to be resuscitated if your heart stops or you stop breathing, but you don’t want to be intubated.

On the other hand, a full code advance directive gives doctors permission to perform any form of resuscitation to revive you.

You don’t normally need to write down DNR, DNI, and full code orders, as you can pass them on verbally to doctors.

It’s also worth noting these advance directives aren’t mutually exclusive. In some cases, you can combine them.

For example, you could include a DNR order or full code order in your living will, or express your wishes not to be intubated to your appointed healthcare agent. However, the various directives you choose to deploy will depend largely on your wider healthcare plan.

• Related: When to Update Your Advance Directive Form

Are Advance Directives Legally Binding?

Advance directives are legally recognized, but they’re not legally binding.

Under the U.S. Patient Self-Determination Act, doctors and healthcare providers are required to honor patients' treatment wishes wherever possible. 

However, in some cases, it may not be possible for doctors to follow your wishes, and the law appreciates that. As a result, they might not follow your advance directive if your instructions:

• Violate healthcare standards

• Go against your doctor’s conscience

• Violate your healthcare provider’s policies

To avoid running into a scenario where this happens, you should always discuss your wishes with doctors and loved ones beforehand as part of your overall healthcare plan.

What Role Do Advanced Directives Play in Healthcare Planning?

Regardless of your age or health condition, an advance healthcare plan is definitely worth establishing. An advance directive offers a clear-cut message to future doctors or loved ones about your medical wishes.

The process of creating an advance directive should normally start by launching an open and honest discussion with loved ones. It might be important to you to get their input. 

It’s equally important for you to spell out your wishes for any potential treatments in the future and any red lines you don’t want to cross. 

By communicating these intentions early — and then putting them in writing — your advance directive can go a long way toward simplifying your future healthcare.

Adam Zagha, founder of Numa Recovery Centers, explains:

“The benefits of creating an advance directive include ensuring that your medical wishes are honored, relieving your loved ones of the burden of making difficult decisions on your behalf, and providing clarity and guidance during times of medical crisis.”

He advises:

“It is recommended to share your advance directive with your family members, your designated healthcare agent, your attorney, and your primary care doctor. It is essential that those who may be involved in your medical care are aware of your wishes and have a copy of the document.”

To ensure all relevant parties have ready access to your advance directive, it’s worth using a dynamic Family Operating System® like Trustworthy.

Trustworthy is an intelligent digital vault that allows you to upload important documentation like an advance directive and turn it into an encrypted digital document. You can then grant online access to your directive on a case-by-case basis to your doctors, attorney, or loved ones.

This ensures everyone understands your medical wishes and is on the same page if something unexpected happens.

Want to learn more? Take a look at what families are saying about Trustworthy and its wide range of features.

In terms of your overall healthcare planning, it’s important to note that you’re allowed to change your mind about the contents of your directive.

Alana Gibson, chief operating officer at DGR Legal, explains: “You can change your advance directive at any time while competent. This involves creating a new document that reflects your current wishes and legally revoking the old one.”

Bearing that in mind, it’s worth reviewing your advance directive on an annual basis. You should also take a look and update your directive when big things happen in your life, for example, if you retire or are diagnosed with a terminal illness.

This will ensure your directive is always up-to-date and reflects your current wishes in the event that something happens and you’re unable to explain your new preferences to your doctors or loved ones.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are advance directives important?

An advance directive is critical in healthcare planning because it spells out your wishes for future medical treatments if you are otherwise unable to communicate them.

What is the role of advanced directives in end-of-life care?

An advance directive lets your family, friends, carers, and medical practitioners know what you’d like to happen as you get older. This can help avoid confusion and disagreements as you reach the end of your life.

What is the difference between an advance directive and an advance statement?

An advance statement can express your wishes about daily care, such as what facility you’ll be treated in. An advance directive explicitly states which medical treatments you’d like to refuse.