Medical Directives
Instructions For Those Who Care For You
Medical directives go by a lot of different names, including living will, Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) orders, health care proxies, and prehospital care directives. In Arizona, "living will" is the most common term but no matter what you call it, it's an important document to have because when critical end of life questions are being asked, you may not be able to communicate directly with the people who care for you.
Approximately 3 out of 4 adults in the United States have not created an advance directive, but given that the most common causes of death for older Americans are chronic illnesses, it is becoming increasingly likely that questions will arise that an advance medical directive is designed to answer.
Some of the issues that a living will can address in Arizona are:
1. Should treatment continue if your doctors believe the condition is terminal or irreversible?
2. Do you want your doctors to try to keep you alive if you will be permanently incapacitated?
3. Would you want your life to be extended by technology such as artificial breathing?
4. What steps should your doctors take to manage your pain?
5. Is quality of life important to you, and how do you define it?
6. Who is in charge of carrying out your wishes?
Of course, these are not always easy questions and for some people the answers touch on medical, religious, family, and personal considerations, so it can be a good idea to include other people you trust in the discussion in addition to your estate planning attorney. We can't make the decision for you but we can explain your options and give you the benefit of our experience so that the decision you ultimately make for yourself is a well informed one.
