Summary: Living Wills And Durable Power Of Attorney

There are many legal and ethical concerns surrounding issues of the end of life. Healthcare providers and patient’s family members all must encounter with different point of views of these matters. Prepare a healthcare Advances Directive is a way a patient can ease many of the issues related with the decision to die with dignity. The two primary legal documents of Advance Directives include Living Wills and Durable Powers of Attorney. By implementing these document, patients can make their wishes about health care decisions to both healthcare providers and family members in the event they become incompetent or incapable of making health care decisions.

A Durable Power of Attorney is a legal document that patients assigns another person (proxy) to make health care decisions for them only in the event patient become incompetent of making such decisions. This document is important for patients who wants someone other than next of kin the legal power to control health care decisions for them (Sabatino, C.).

A Living Will is a legal written document that patients drafts to expresses their preferences for future medical care, usually end of life care.

This document must be signed by the patient with a witness(es) present, and will go into effect only when a patient has lost capacity to make health care decisions (terminal illness and/or in a state of permanent unconsciousness). A living will is so valuable in health care situation because it provide guidelines for healthcare providers and patient’s surrogate decision maker(s) to follow his/her wishes (Sabatino, C.). In order to withdraw life-sustaining treatments, two physicians must confirmed that patient in a terminal condition or permanent unconsciousness

state.
Since everyone have different values and beliefs, many people believe that death is preferable to being dependent on life sustaining treatments. Others feel that life sustaining treatments should be used as long as possible in having hope of returning regardless of the quality of life that results. For example, a patient have not yet prepared an Advance Directive when he or she is incapacitated. Some of the family members agreed to withdraw life-sustaining treatments because they believe that is the best choice to ends the life of a suffering. However, other members in the family wants to withhold life-sustaining treatments in the hope that patient’s conditions is reversible. Therefore, an Advance Directive would be very beneficial to family members and those involved in this case. It can give everyone peace of mind as well as avoiding the disagreement among family members regarding the best way to care for patient in his or her final stage of life.
Death can sneak up and strike on us at any time; however, many of us are trying the not think about it and plan for our end-of-life care. Making our decisions about our end-of-life care today can enhance our quality of life in the future and relieve the burden on our family. Discussing our health care desires with our loved ones and preparing an Advance Directive will offers the best certainty that decisions regarding our future medical care will be honored in the event that we can no longer do so ourselves.