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    Advance Directives

    There may come a time when you or a family member is seriously injured or very ill and difficult decisions about giving or withholding medical care must be made. Every competent adult has the right to accept or refuse any recommended medical treatment and documenting your health care choices before you are sick or injured helps your family and physician understand your wishes.

    Advance directive is a term that refers to written instructions about your future medical care and treatment in the event you become incompetent, unable to communicate, or lose decision-making abilities. By putting your choices in writing, you ensure that your wishes are followed in the event you can no longer express your treatment choices.

    Two types of advance directives are recognized under Kentucky law:
    • Living Will directive, which includes a health care surrogate designation
    • Durable power of attorney
    Your decision about advance directives is a personal one, which should be made only after careful thought. If you are considering a living will directive or a durable power of attorney, you may want to discuss your concerns with a family member, close friend, clergy or your physician. If you have any questions about the legal validity of your advance directive, you should consult an attorney.
    tive is a term that refers to your spoken and written instructions about your future medical care and treatment. It is a collection of documents that spell out what treatments you do or do not want. These papers only discuss medical treatment and are not the same thing as legal or financial documents such as a power of attorney.
     
    There may come a time when you or a family member is seriously injured or very ill and difficult decisions about giving or withholding medical care must be made. Every competent adult has the right to accept or refuse any recommended medical treatment, and documenting your health care choices before you are sick or injured helps your family and physician understand your wishes.

    Illinois Department of Health - Living Will Information
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