Advanced Directives Essay
Jessa Young
Pettit
English 1001 40595
October 14, 2012
The Problem With Advanced Directives
From an early age, it needs to be decided what steps should be taken when the end is near and a patient can’t communicate what their wishes would be. We do not know when that day might come, as death often comes without warning. Before this day comes, we need to be prepared and be able to tell the people closest to us what we wish for ourselves when we can no longer make the decisions. This process is called advanced directives or better known as our living will. A living will is a document that spells out your wishes if you are in an irreversible condition that’s going to lead to death. The purpose of advanced directives is for the patient to communicate their wishes to their physicians and their family members regarding aggressive medical treatment. If they fail to do this before a terminal illness occurs, their wishes may not be taken into account and their families will have to make the difficult decision. There are many methods that could be used to resolve the unfamiliarity with advanced directives such as pamphlets, physician discussion, public service announcements, and legislative back up.
The living will is often misinterpreted as just a will, but that is not correct. A living will has nothing to do with your estate, money, or personal belongings. A living will is a guide for the treatment a patient would like to receive or not receive. This is decided amongst the patient, his or her physician, and should be communicated with immediate family members. There are several different forms of advanced directives. The most common one that everyone refers to is the living will. A living will tells the patients family if they want life support, should they be in a terminal condition. The next form is a durable power of attorney. This names who the patient would like to name as who is in charge of their medical decisions if they are unable to make them on their own.
Pettit
English 1001 40595
October 14, 2012
The Problem With Advanced Directives
From an early age, it needs to be decided what steps should be taken when the end is near and a patient can’t communicate what their wishes would be. We do not know when that day might come, as death often comes without warning. Before this day comes, we need to be prepared and be able to tell the people closest to us what we wish for ourselves when we can no longer make the decisions. This process is called advanced directives or better known as our living will. A living will is a document that spells out your wishes if you are in an irreversible condition that’s going to lead to death. The purpose of advanced directives is for the patient to communicate their wishes to their physicians and their family members regarding aggressive medical treatment. If they fail to do this before a terminal illness occurs, their wishes may not be taken into account and their families will have to make the difficult decision. There are many methods that could be used to resolve the unfamiliarity with advanced directives such as pamphlets, physician discussion, public service announcements, and legislative back up.
The living will is often misinterpreted as just a will, but that is not correct. A living will has nothing to do with your estate, money, or personal belongings. A living will is a guide for the treatment a patient would like to receive or not receive. This is decided amongst the patient, his or her physician, and should be communicated with immediate family members. There are several different forms of advanced directives. The most common one that everyone refers to is the living will. A living will tells the patients family if they want life support, should they be in a terminal condition. The next form is a durable power of attorney. This names who the patient would like to name as who is in charge of their medical decisions if they are unable to make them on their own.