Currently, in the State of Florida, a separate form must be signed by your physician to ensure that CPR will not be performed. In the future, we are hoping to have a National Central Registry established that can easily be accessed via computer, where your Advance Care Plan is available to health care professionals around the country. You should carry a copy of your Advance Care Plan Document with you when traveling. Advance Care Planning comes into use only under certain conditions when one reaches a stage in life where it is clear that death is around the corner, or when one has lost the ability to think. Advance Care Plans do not apply when there is a chance of cure or improvement that allows one to enjoy life.
Doctors are very careful and tend to err more on the side of caution.
Some patients ultimately recover. The sooner, the better for all persons over the age of 18 years. No one can know when an accident or disease may make one unable to state his or her personal choices. Advance Care Plans are never final. Everyone has the right to change the document at any time.