Definitions

Advance directives: An advance directive is a written document or series of forms. You sign it to make it binding. The document indicates your choices about medical treatment. In the document, you can also name someone to make decisions about your medical treatment if you are unable to make these decisions or choices yourself. By completing the appropriate advance directives, you can predetermine end-of-life decisions about your future medical care in a legally sound way.

Two types of advance directives are generally completed: a living will and a medical power of attorney (also referred to as designation of a health care surrogate or health care proxy).

• Living will: This written statement tells health care providers what type of life-prolonging treatments or procedures to perform if you have a terminal condition or are in a persistent vegetative state. Living wills should not be confused with a regular will. A living will only deals with and addresses issues regarding your medical care while you are still living.
  
  
• Medical power of attorney (or designation of a health care surrogate): This legal document allows you to select any person to make medical decisions for you if you should become temporarily or even permanently unable to make those decisions for yourself. This person is also referred to as your attorney-in-fact, but it is not necessary for them to be a lawyer.

Life-prolonging treatments: These procedures are not expected to cure your terminal condition or make you better. They only prolong the dying process. Examples include a ventilator (breathing machine), kidney dialysis, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

Terminal condition: If you have an incurable condition of this type, medical treatment will only prolong the dying process. And without such treatment or procedures, death will occur in a short period of time.

Persistent vegetative state: This permanent coma or state of being unconscious is caused by injury, disease, or illness. You are unaware of your surroundings, and no reasonable expectation of recovery exists.

Do not resuscitate (DNR): Your doctor discusses this form or document with you, and it tells health care providers and emergency personnel that if your heart stops beating (cardiac arrest) or if you stop breathing (respiratory arrest) that they are not to attempt to revive you by any means. A DNR is not the same as a living will.

Artificial nutrition and hydration: This procedure is the invasive administration of nutrition and fluids through IV lines and feeding tubes. It is not the natural process of eating food or drinking liquid.