Understanding a Personal Directive
A Personal Directive allows you to be heard even when you can't speak
When it comes to healthcare decisions, it is important to have a plan in place in case you are unable to make them for yourself. A personal directive is a legal document that allows you to appoint a proxy decision maker, called a "delegate," who will make healthcare decisions for you if you become incapacitated. In addition to appointing a delegate, a personal directive also allows you to provide specific guidance about how you want your delegate to exercise his or her authority. In this article, we will discuss the importance of having a personal directive, the difference between a living will and a power of attorney for healthcare, and how a personal directive combines elements of both.
Living Will vs Power of Attorney for Healthcare
A living will is a document that specifies the types of medical treatments you would or would not want to receive if you were unable to make your own decisions. A power of attorney for healthcare is a legal document that allows you to appoint someone to make healthcare decisions for you if you become incapacitated. While a living will provides guidance about your healthcare preferences, a power of attorney for healthcare allows someone else to make decisions on your behalf. A personal directive combines both elements by allowing you to appoint a delegate and provide specific guidance to your delegate about your healthcare preferences while still allowing your delegate to make the final call on your treatment based on the existing circumstances.
Understanding Personal Directives in Nova Scotia
In Nova Scotia, a personal directive is a legal document that allows you to appoint a delegate to make healthcare decisions for you if you become incapacitated. To create one, you must be at least 19 years old and of sound mind. You must also sign the document in the presence of two witnesses who are not related to you and who are not named as your delegate or alternate delegate.
Your delegate should be someone you trust to make healthcare decisions on your behalf. It is usually a close relative or friend, not a healthcare professional. It is also wise to appoint an alternative delegate in case the first is unavailable or unwilling to speak for you. You can also provide specific guidance about how you want your delegate to exercise his or her authority.
Benefits of Having a Personal Directive
Having a personal directive can ensure that your wishes are respected in the event that you are unable to make healthcare decisions for yourself. It can also reduce stress and conflict for your loved ones, who may otherwise be forced to make difficult decisions without knowing your preferences. By creating one, you can have peace of mind knowing that your healthcare decisions will be made according to your wishes. In addition, residential care facilities require new residents to have one in place.
Examples of Guidance to Delegates
One of the benefits of creating a personal directive is the ability to provide specific guidance to your delegate about how you want your healthcare decisions to be made. This can include preferences for specific medical treatments, end-of-life care, and other healthcare decisions. Here are some examples of typical guidance that you might include:
- Medical Treatment Preferences: You may have strong preferences regarding specific medical treatments or procedures that you do or do not want to receive. For example, you may prefer to avoid certain medications, surgeries, or treatments due to personal beliefs or concerns about side effects. Your personal directive can specify your preferences regarding these treatments and ensure that your delegate is aware of your wishes.
- End-of-Life Care: You may have preferences about how you want to be cared for if you become terminally ill or near the end of your life. You can include instructions for pain management, palliative care, and other end-of-life decisions. You can also specify whether or not you want to be resuscitated or kept on life support if your condition worsens.
- Religious or Cultural Beliefs: You can also include instructions related to your religious or cultural beliefs. For example, you may prefer to receive care from a healthcare provider of a specific gender or religion. You may also have preferences for how your body is handled after death, such as burial or cremation.
- Quality of Life: You may have preferences about the quality of life you want to maintain if you become incapacitated. For example, you may specify that you want to continue to live at home and receive in-home care rather than being placed in a nursing home. You may also provide instructions about how you want to be cared for in terms of hygiene, grooming, and other personal needs.
- Personal Preferences: You can also include other personal preferences that you want your delegate to consider when making healthcare decisions on your behalf. For example, you may want to specify that you prefer to receive care from a specific healthcare provider or that you want your delegate to consult with a specific family member or friend before making decisions.
Including specific guidance in your personal directive can help ensure that your delegate is aware of your preferences and can make decisions that are consistent with your values and beliefs. By taking the time to create a comprehensive document, you can have peace of mind knowing that your healthcare decisions will be made according to your wishes.
Conclusion
A personal directive is an important legal document that allows you to appoint a delegate to make healthcare decisions for you if you become incapacitated. It also allows you to provide specific guidance about how you want your delegate to make decisions on your behalf. While a living will and a power of attorney for healthcare are important documents, a personal directive combines elements of both, providing comprehensive guidance for your healthcare decisions.
Do you need a legal will, power of attorney, personal directive, or any regular Notary service?
Find out why many make Worry Free Will & Notary their first choice.
2023 Worry Free Will & Notary | Privacy Policy | Terms of Service