Life/Death Issues (Research); Advanced Medical Directives

Advanced Medical Directives are decisions made by someone regarding medical treatments they want to take in future, in precaution if they are unable to make any mentally sound decisions for themselves when needed. There are 3 types of directives, living will, power of attorney and health care proxy.

LIVING WILL: This is a written document that specifies what types of medical treatment are desired. A living will can be very specific or very general. Most of them are stating if life-preserving measures should be used when he/she is suffering some incurable disease and so on. While the more detailed one will consist of what kind of drugs is preferred by him/her.

POWER OF ATTORNEY: In this case, individuals may write legal documents providing power of attorney to others in the case of serious weakening medical condition. The power of attorney allows an individual to make bank transactions, sign Social Security checks, apply for disability, or simply write checks to pay the utility bill while an individual is medically incapacitated.

HEALTH PROXY: This is a legal document when one decides and appoints someone to decide for him/her in the future when he/she is unable to make decisions on health services required.

http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=2158