This is the process of talking about and writing down your wishes for medical care if you become unable to speak for yourself.
An advance directive is written instructions about health care treatment made by adult patients before they lose decision-making capacity. An advance directive may include a:
Advance care planning is for anyone over age 18. It is important that your family and loved ones know your wishes if you become unable to make health care decisions for yourself.
A health care agent is someone you trust and choose to make health care decisions for you if you become unable to make your own decisions.
A heath care proxy is a document you use to appoint your health care agent.
Anyone over the age of 18, except for the person appointed as the health care agent, can be a witness.
If you don’t appoint a health care agent and you lose capacity to make decisions for yourself, a surrogate will be chosen from the surrogate list set forth in the Family Health Care Decisions Act. A surrogate, in order of highest priority may be a:
A living will is a written statement of your specific health care wishes in the event you become unable to decide for yourself.
New York State does not have a standard living will form. New York State does recognize living wills as valid if they provide "clear and convincing evidence" of the person's wishes.
A nonhospital DNR order means that emergency medical services (EMS) staff will not begin CPR, which includes actions such as:
A nonhospital DNR order is commonly used for someone with a serious health condition, advanced age, or terminal illness and must be signed by a health care provider. If someone has a nonhospital DNR order, and they stop breathing or their heart stops beating, CPR and other potentially-invasive, life-sustaining treatments will not be started.
Examples of serious health conditions include:
CPR is used when your breathing or heart stops. It involves someone pushing air into your mouth and pushing down very hard on your chest with their hands. It can also involve being given medication to make your heart start again -- or restarting your heart using a machine called an automatic external defibrillator (AED). This provides an electric shock to keep your heart beat normal. Intubation is when a plastic, flexible tube is inserted through your mouth -- and then into your lungs. This helps you breathe if you stop breathing.
You can carry your DNR order with you. You can also wear a DNR bracelet or necklace to indicate that you have a DNR order.
This is a medical order filled out by you and your health care provider. A MOLST is not for everyone. Typically, a MOLST is used by someone who:
Your current forms should be kept in your home. A copy should be given to your health care agent and to all your health care providers.
If you have a DNR or MOLST, store it where emergency responders can easily find it.
If you are traveling, you should keep a copy of your forms with you. If you are visiting family or close friends, a copy should be kept with them for the duration of your trip.