use the first paragraph as your model

Today at work I had the opportunity to read what I consider to be perhaps the most succinct, yet crystal clear advanced directive I have ever seen. 

"I wish to live and enjoy life as long as possible, but I do not wish to receive futile medical treatment that I define as treatment that will provide no benefit to me and that will only secure a precarious and burdensome prolonging of my life.  I would also consider treatment futile when I had irrevocably lost the ability to interact knowingly and effectively with others.  In general, I would, if competent, reject treatments that impose suffering or strain on me that were out of proportion with the benefits expected to be gained by the use of such treatments, even if my condition is not one that is specifically described in this instrument."

Compare this with the "standard language" in an advanced directive below. 

"If at any time I should have an incurable injury, disease, or illness certified to be a terminal condition by two physicians who have personally examined me,one of whom shall be my attending physician, and the physicians have determined that my death will occur whether or not life-sustaining procedures are utilized, and where the application of life-sustaining procedures would serve only to artificially prolong the dying process, I direct that such procedures be withheld or withdrawn, and that I be permitted to die naturally with only the administration of medication or the performance of any medical procedure deemed necessary to provide me with comfort care."

I don't know if you can appreciate fully the simple beauty of the language in the first advanced directive.  But I will tell you that as a healthcare provider it tells me EVERYTHING I need to know about how to care for this person if they are ever in a position of not being able to tell me what things we should and should not do to/for them.  If you still don't have an advanced directive may I suggest you use the first paragraph as your model?

Comments

[Pat P]

Permission to steal.... I like things simply stated. (I work in healthcare, but even though I sign that HIPAA statement every year, does not mean I understand half of what it says!)

[jacki long]

Thanks Carol, I am at that point and I will. Thank you.

[Vicki in Michigan]

THank you, Carol. THis is certainly more expressive than what I have at present.

[karen]

I've said it before and will say it again. I am so thankful for the "carols" out there in the medical end of life field.

[Joan]

Thanks so much for your post tonight. I've copied this to include in my Living Trust.

[Judy H.]

Excellent.

[Sandy]

Having spent the weekend with a group of people working on an advance statement care plan, I have to say these words are what we all really wanted to say, but you have said it a little better. Thank you