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Medical Care Decisions Advance Directives FAQs All adults in healthcare facilities such as
hospitals, nursing homes, hospices, home healthcare agencies and health
maintenance organizations, have certain rights under You have the right to fill out an “advance directive,” explaining in advance what kind of treatment you want or do not want under special, serious medical conditions – conditions that would stop you from telling your doctor your choices. For example, if you are taken to a healthcare facility in a coma, would you want the facility staff to know your specific wishes about decisions regarding your treatment? What is a healthcare surrogate? What is a healthcare power of attorney? What is a State Do Not Resuscitate form? Is a living will or healthcare surrogate better? Must I have an advance directive in Florida? When does an advance directive go into effect? Can I change my mind after I make a living will or designate a surrogate? What if I have filled out an advance directive in another state and need treatment in Florida? Where can I get an advance directive or living will? What do I do with my completed advance directives? What is an advance
directive? The advance directive tells the healthcare provider how you
want your medical decisions to be made. In What is a living will? A living
will generally states the kind of medical care you want or do not want if you
become unable to make your own decisions. It is called a “living will” because
it takes effect while you are still living. What
is a healthcare surrogate? A “healthcare surrogate” designation is a
signed, dated and witnessed paper naming another person – such as a husband,
wife, adult child, other relative or friend – as your agent to make medical
decisions for you if you should become unable to make them for yourself. You can
include instructions about any treatment you want or do not want. What is a healthcare power of attorney? A healthcare power of attorney is very similar to a healthcare surrogate. A power of attorney designation may include authority to make healthcare decisions or it may be limited to financial and personal property decisions. What is a State Do Not Resuscitate form? A State “DNR” (Do Not Resuscitate) form is a specialized advance directive completed by the patient’s physician and the patient when the patient is known to have terminal illness. This document allows emergency healthcare providers to give the patient supportive treatment for comfort but to not treat the patient aggressively or resuscitate the patient in the event of a cardiac or respiratory arrest. This type of advance directive requires a special form which is available through Munroe’s Case Management department. For more information, call (352) 351-7208. Is a living will or healthcare surrogate better? You may wish to have both a living will and a surrogate. You can combine them into a single document that describes your treatment choices in a variety of situations and names someone to make decisions for you. For example, using the healthcare surrogate form, you can designate a surrogate and an alternate. In addition, you may write in any specific treatment you want or do not want. The wishes you have expressed in writing cannot be overridden by your surrogate. However, in situations where you have not specified a particular wish, the surrogate probably can make the decision you would have made. This is why it is very important to talk at length with your surrogate. Discuss how you feel about various medical treatments and issues, your religious beliefs and any other information you feel may help your surrogate make the decision you would have made. Must I have an advance directive in Florida? No, there is no legal requirement to complete an advance directive. However, if you have not made an advance directive or designated a healthcare surrogate, decisions will be made for you by a proxy appointed by the healthcare institution using the Florida statute guidelines that state the proxy will be chosen from a court appointed guardian, your spouse, your adult children, your parent, your adult siblings, an adult relative, close friend or a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and will be chosen in that order. When does an advance directive go into effect? A living will goes into effect when you cannot be cured and death is imminent, or when you are in a persistent vegetative state. The powers granted to your healthcare surrogate go into effect when you doctor states in writing that you are not able to make or to make known your healthcare choices. Can I change my mind after I made a living will or designate a surrogate? Yes, you may change or cancel the documents at any time you choose to do so. Any change should be written, signed and dated. You can also change an advance directive by oral statement. What
if I have filled out an advance directive in another state and need treatment in
Florida? An advance directive completed in another state, in compliance
with another state’s laws, can be honored in Where can I get an advance directive or living will? Munroe is happy to provide advance directive information and a living will/healthcare surrogate form. English version. Spanish version. What do I do with my completed advance directives? Give a copy of your advance directive to your physician for
your medical file.
Make sure your family knows about your advance directive
and where the written forms are located.
Keep a copy of your advance directive in a place where it
can be easily found.
Keep a card or note in your purse or wallet that says you
have an advance directive and where it is.
If you change your advance directive, make sure your
physician, attorney and/or family has the latest
copy.
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