What Should I Include in My Advance Directive?

Your advance directive can be as specific or as general as you wish. However, the more information you provide, the more likely it is that your wishes will be honored when you cannot speak for yourself.

Most statutory advance directive forms contain certain general information, such as the following: 

• The kind of care you would or would not want to receive in specific circumstances — for example, if you had a life-limiting illness such as cancer or end-stage kidney disease.
• The kind of care you would like to receive if you were permanently unconscious in a “PERSISTENT VEGETATIVE STATE.”
• How long you would want life support maintained if it became obvious you could not recover from an illness or accident in a meaningful way (for example, to return home and care for your own needs).
• Who you designate as your healthcare surrogate/durable power of attorney for health care.

However, you can add as much detail to these forms as you like. For example, you can state your preferences regarding organ, tissue or whole-body donation and your choice for final disposition if you wish. You may also add information about specific types of medical care that doctors may wish to institute if you are very ill. For example, you can state whether or not you wish to receive the following:

• Antibiotics if you have an infection
• DIALYSIS if your kidneys fail
• Artificial ventilation if you stop breathing or your lungs are failing to provide enough oxygen to sustain life
• Treatments to keep your heart working properly, including intravenous medications and implantable devices such as an implantable cardioverter defibrillator or ICD, a pacemaker, or a left-ventricular assist device or LVAD
• Blood transfusions for life-threatening bleeding
• Artificial hydration and/or nutrition

You can also designate people who you want to be able to visit you if you are in the hospital or ICU, even if they are not related to you by blood or marriage, using this Visitation Authorization form.

Creating a truly effective advance healthcare directive requires communication and planning. If you are seriously ill or have a life-limiting illness, speak with your doctor and your family about goals of care. You may also wish to consult these helpful tools and resources offered by Compassion and Choices to guide your discussions and help you create an end-of-life plan. 

Sources

“Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs)”. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/implantable-cardioverter-defibrillators/about/pac-20384692 

“Heart Failure and the LVAD”. WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/heart-failure/left-ventricular-assist-device 

“Hospital Visitation Authorization Form”. Compassion & Choices. https://compassionandchoices.org/resource/hospital-visitation-authorization-form/ 

“Tools to Finish Strong”. Compassion & Choices. https://compassionandchoices.org/eolc/finish-strong-tools/