Advance directive. Do you have one? Do you know what it is?
Simply put, an advance directive is a legal form that allows you to convey your decisions about end-of-life care if you were to ever be too sick or injured to express your wishes. Advance directives let medical providers know if you want to be resuscitated, fed via tube, placed on dialysis, etc. or if you would prefer that drastic measures not be taken.
My department is sponsoring an awareness event in a few months to inform hospital employees about advance directives. I will have one done at that time.
Is this something you’ve ever thought about? Do you have any questions about advance directives? I’m putting together a FAQ and would love to hear your thoughts/questions/concerns about advance directives.
Thanks!!
Nerd Girl 
I do not have one. My mother did not have one and I was forced to make that decision.. Talk about tough.. I honestly don’t know what I would want to happen. I am an organ donor and my med records and my license state this, but I’ll have to give more thought to this.
I don’t have one either. I feel like I should get one b/c I don’t ever want to put all that on my family.
I don’t have one, and I haven’t put much thought into it. I think I will now…
Neither my husband or I have one, however we have discussed what we’d like to happen under these circumstances. I would like to put on in place though. I think it makes it easier during a time that is already difficult enough on loved one. And, my husband is a softie and I fear that he might now honor my wishes.
Signed one for my mom when she was in the final stages.
Neither my husband or I have one. My grandfather did not have either but expressed his wishes to not be fed by a tube nor placed on dialysis. His children could not come to an agreement about what to do so they did the opposite of what he wanted 😦 Am I correct in assuming this directive would have taken this decsion out of their hands? If the hospital is not aware of the directive, what is done once they find out about the directive if they had not followed the patients wishes? I do not know how true it is but I’ve heard that just because your DL says you are an organ donor it is up to the family to decide if they want to donate. Is that true?
Thanks for posting this Nerd Girl!
Not that this is a definitive answer, but my aunt recently created an AD. Thank goodness, we haven’t had to use it but what she did was to send a copy to both her sons, my dad as well as my husband or I. It is her hope that my dad or I would step in if her sons tired to go against her wishes.
this became very important when my brother was leaving this earth.
and it became a bone of contention because family members did not want to honor the wishes in his AD. His wife did, and I respected her for that, even though it may have put her at odds with others.
How often does it need to be updated? Does the hospital keep a copy in case you misplace yours? what happens if you misplace yours. My brother had been sick for so long, it seems his was not current and there was some question as to what should be done.
looking forward to your answers and smart use of blogging.
I don’t have one. I’ve only had informal conversations with my family about this. Are there general forms to complete? And where do you go to do it – the hospital, an attorney, download it and keep it at home?
So basically it’s a living will. I don’t think I’ve ever heard the advanced directive term used before. We don’t but this is something to put on the ‘to do’ list. My mom does but she’s always told us, quite emphatically, that if she gets really ill to and I quote, “put me down and burn me up.” She’s a nut that knows what she wants. LOL
I have talked about what I would want for myself but it is not signed, sealed and delivered. Now that I’m someones mother I think I’ll get one written up.
I have one. My cousin is a notary and I had her notarize the document during my wedding reception. I am still disturbed by the Terry Schiavo fiasco. It’s too easy to write directions down and remove doubt about your wishes.
I don’t have one, but now that I have a child it’s something I think I probably should do. Who do you give it to before you become sick enough to need one? Like, if I were single–who would be in charge of the documents? How do I make sure my wishes are really carried out?
I have one. My husband and I created them after I was diagnosed with Lupus this past summer. I almost died in the hospital and that made it perfectly clear to me that I needed to get one. I work in Healthcare Admin and have known about them for years. The hospitals here in Maryland always ask if you have one on file and if you don’t they can give you information on how to create one. Ours are on file with our local hospital as well as the hospitals near our parents. Our primary care physician has a copy of each of ours as well as my brother and his sister. Of course we keep a copy with our important documents in the house too. We gave them to the people most likely to be level headed in a bad situation. It’s helpful to keep one on file at your primary care doctor’s office too because if you’re ever in the hospital, that office will likely be notified and they can pass the information along.
Rashan and I both want to be let go if we’re no longer mentally viable. My mom, too. IDK about my sister. If his brain is working, he wants to be in a coma forever. If I’m in a coma for a year, that’s too long. Take me off life support, see what happens, if I die, it was time. I don’t know what other parameters we need to cover but I suppose we should do that. My mom’s friend’s mom had a DNR (do not resuscitate) that ALL of her 5 daughters ignored. She was EXTREMELY pissed when she woke up. Couldn’t talk anymore but her face and attitude said it all. They let her go the next time she died.
I know its wrong ;), but I laughed when I read the last part of your comment.