Advance directives are a way of letting your family and doctors know about your health care wishes in case the time comes when you are unable to speak for yourself because of injury or illness. There are two types of advance directives: a living will and a medical power of attorney.
A living will is a document that directs your doctor to withhold or withdraw life-prolonging interventions if you are terminally ill or permanently unconscious. It can tell your doctor to provide only those treatments that will relieve pain and provide comfort.
A medical power of attorney allows you to name a person to make health care decisions for you when you are incapable of making decisions yourself. It also allows you to give specific instructions to your representative about the type of care you would want to receive. Experts stress the importance of choosing a representative who knows your values and wishes and who is likely to be available.
There are definite differences between a living will and a medical power of attorney. A living will applies only if you are terminally ill or permanently unconscious, and, unless you write in other specific instructions, it only tells your doctor what you do not want.
The medical power of attorney allows you to appoint someone to make decisions for you if you cannot make them, which in some ways makes it more flexible than the living will. Many people choose to have both a living will and medical power of attorney. If you have both, make sure they are kept together so that your representative will know all of your wishes.
Each State Is Different
All 50 states have laws that recognize the use of advance directives. For example, your state law may decide at what point a living will goes into effect. It may also limit treatments to which the living will applies.
To learn more, you may wish to start by inquiring with your personal physician or estate planning attorney.
Please contact Erik Showalter at 540-460-1401 or 540-463-1865, or via e-mail at eshowalter@ka-order.org, for more information.
Click the icon to request a FREE guide to making gifts of life insurance.
The information in this Web site is not intended as legal advice. For legal advice, please consult an attorney. Figures cited in examples are for hypothetical purposes only and are subject to change. References to estate and income tax include federal taxes only. Individual state taxes and/or state law may impact your results.
Advance directives are a way of letting your family and doctors know about your health care wishes in case the time comes when you are unable to speak for yourself because of injury or illness. There are two types of advance directives: a living will and a medical power of attorney. 
