The instructions as to what treatment to receive if the patient is in a terminal condition - called in Virginia an Advanced Medical Directive or an Advanced Health Care Directive - need only take a paragraph or so.
And these may be in the same document as a Durable Health Care Power of Attorney in which persons are nominated to make health care decisions on behalf of a patient, which don't necessarily mean questions about people in terminal conditions.
I am third alternate in a Durable Health Care Power of Attorney for my elderly client who is somewhat ga-ga, because he suffers from CRS (Can't Remember Shit) and can't keep track of his Medicare card, insurance card, appointments, medications, etc. When the other people are unavailable, I am the one who keeps track of this for him. They travel a lot, so I've done it twice, but he's far from in a terminal condition.
If he had a wife or a close relative living nearby the hospitals typically don't require such documents, but they do when a non-relative is involved. So if you don't want your relatives calling the shots, remember this.
This is what happens to gay people sometimes (and straight persons merely living with a lover) -- the live-in lover has no say and the estranged parents do.
Pick someone who feels about life the same way you do. If you want the plug pulled and your spouse doesn't believe in this, or vice versa, pick someone else. |
