What are Advance Medical Directives?

Advance Medical Directives are also known as Living Wills, there is no difference between the two documents.

An Advance Medical Directive is a way for you to let your doctors and relatives know how you feel about certain aspects of medical treatment.

Of course in the unfortunate event that you do wind up in hospital you would normally be able to tell them yourself, but there are times when patients are not able to communicate, and doctors or relatives are called upon to make decisions for them.

An Advance Medical Directive will leave them in no doubt about your wishes.

Your Advance Medical Directive can include details about under what circumstances (if any!) you would like treatment to be discontinued. Just in case you don't pull through; you can specify what (if any) organs you would like to donate.

You can also nominate an Agent or Proxy who you authorize to make decisions concerning your treatment.

It is important to remember that an Advance Medical Directive and your nominated Agent will only be consulted if you are not able to communicate for yourself.

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