Examples of Advanced Directives are:
Verbal instructions Decisions regarding care that are communicated verbally to health care providers or family members.
Organ donation Removal of healthy tissues from the person who has died for transplantation into a recipient in need. Becoming an organ donor is as simple as completing an organ donation card and carrying it in your wallet. Register online at www.flhsmv.gov/HTML/organ_donor.html
Living Will A legal document that spells out the types of medical treatments and life-sustaining measures you do and do not want, such as mechanical breathing (respiration and ventilation), tube feeding, or resuscitation.
Healthcare Surrogate (aka Medical Power of Attorney) A legal document that allows you to appoint someone else (proxy) to make medical/health care decisions in the event you become unable to make or communicate such decisions.
DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) Order. This states that CPR is not to be performed if breathing stops or heart stops beating. The order is written by the person’s doctor after discussing the issue with the person, the proxy, or family.
Who Should Get Copies of Documents?
Provide copies of all documents listed here to family members/healthcare surrogate and health care providers. Carry a copy in your wallet, glove compartment of car, and/or other safe location. For a planned admission to a hospital, bring copies for the hospital to include in the medical chart.
Making Changes
These decisions can be changed at any time. Remember to inform healthcare providers, proxies, and family members about the changes made and distribute new copies of instructions to everyone involved.
