What Does an Advance Directive Include?

An advance directive typically includes a range of instructions, preferences, and decisions related to your medical care and treatment in case you become unable to communicate or make decisions for yourself.

The specific components of an advance directive can vary depending on your jurisdiction and personal preferences, but they generally include the following elements:

•     Medical Treatment Preferences: Clearly outline your preferences for medical treatments, interventions, and procedures. This can include decisions about resuscitation, mechanical ventilation, tube feeding, dialysis, surgery, and other medical interventions.
•     End-of-Life Care: Specify your wishes regarding end-of-life care, including whether you want to receive palliative care or hospice care, and under what circumstances you would like life-sustaining treatments to be withheld or withdrawn.
•     Organ Donation: Indicate whether you want to be an organ donor and which organs or tissues you are willing to donate. This may also include any specific conditions or restrictions you have regarding organ donation.
•     Pain Management and Comfort Care: Describe your preferences for pain management and comfort care, ensuring that your wishes for pain relief and symptom control are understood by your healthcare providers.
•     Choice of Healthcare Proxy or Agent: Designate a trusted individual to act as your healthcare proxy or agent. This person will make medical decisions on your behalf if you are unable to do so. Be sure to discuss your preferences with them and obtain their agreement before designating them.
•     Instructions for Specific Situations: Address specific medical scenarios that are important to you. For example, you might outline your preferences for dementia care, treatment of specific medical conditions, or situations where your quality of life is severely compromised.
•     Cultural or Religious Considerations: Include any cultural, religious, or spiritual beliefs that might influence your medical decisions, treatments, or rituals.
•     Personal Values and Beliefs: Express your personal values, beliefs, and goals related to medical care. This can provide context for your healthcare proxy and medical providers when making decisions on your behalf.
•     Witnesses and Notary Signatures: In many jurisdictions, advance directives require witnesses and/or notarization to ensure their legality and validity. Check the legal requirements in your area.
•     Emergency Contact Information: Include contact details for family members, friends, or other individuals who should be notified in case of a medical emergency.
•     Date of Document: Clearly date the advance directive to indicate when it was created or last updated.

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It's important to note that while these are common components of an advance directive, the specific details and requirements can vary by location and personal circumstances.

​It's recommended to consult with legal and medical professionals when creating or updating your advance directive to ensure that it accurately reflects your wishes and is legally valid.