Medical Health Care Power Of Attorney Vs Advance Directive For Healthcare

Both are known in legal terms as advance directives generally the law addresses.

Medical health care power of attorney vs advance directive for healthcare. In some states this directive may also be called a durable power of attorney for health care or a health care proxy. A living will or instruction directive alerts medical professionals and your family to the treatments you want to receive or refuse. Advance directive is the general term that refers to the various documents that could include a living will instruction directive health care proxy or health care power of attorney. The wsma offers advance directives both the health care directive and the durable power of attorney for health care to physicians and patients to help guide decision making at the end of life.

A health care directive may provide either specific or more general direction as to an individual s health care wishes. This is someone you trust to make health care decisions for you. Specific health care directives clearly anticipate and give directions relating to treatment for the specific circumstances that exist whereas general health care directives serve as guidelines for future decision making. An advance directive can also be used to say what your preferences.

House bill 1175 passed during the 2019 washington state legislative session and effective july 28 2019 expands decision making options for. A maryland law called the health care decisions act says that you can do health care planning through advance directives an advance directive can be used to name a health care agent. Advance directives are legally binding and tell doctors what life extending measures you want taken or not taken if you are unable to communicate.