The discussions you have with your family now will help them follow your wishes in the future and will help you honor theirs, if necessary. Advance Directive A document in which a person either states choices for medical treatment or designates who should make treatment choices if the person should lose decision-making capacity. Its general emphasis is on limiting treatments. A medical intervention administered to a patient that prolongs life and delays death. Comfort measures are not considered life-prolonging treatments.
Specific language is required to make such authority valid.
The DPOA can also include instructions about specific choices to be made. Making health care decisions can be very complicated. It is important that you have all the information necessary to make these important decisions. Because of the commitment of St. Joseph Hospital to meet the total needs of its patients, staff is available to assist you in answering your remaining questions.