Advance Medical Directive FAQ's
If you have a question about a specific Advance Medical Directive please feel free to drop us a note on the contact us page. We stay pretty busy, but we do try our best to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your patience, we know how important this is.
Am I required by law to have an Advance Directive?
No, You are not required by law to have an Advance Medical Directive, however it is a device that can be really helpful if you are feeling pressured, coerced, or if you want to be able to prove that you were treated or injured because of actions that were against your officially documented will.
Do I need a lawyer to have an Advance Directive?
No, you do not need to consult an attorney in order to create yourself a medical directive. The forms on this site can be filled out with your personal wishes and once they are notarized and filed into your patient file or into your personnel file with your employer they are official, legal and binding. It is however important to obtain a receipt when you file so that your directive cannot be claimed lost or never received.
Can I get advance directive forms elsewhere?
Yes, you can create your own advance directive form, add to the forms on this site, or find forms from your state or local bar association, senior citizen centers, health care service providers, and from state health department web sites.
We have taken the time to create forms that address some of the concerns that have arisen in the past couple of years on our directives, so you may find that the forms you find here include more options and considerations than those found elsewhere.
You can list the treatments you would want or not want without using a form, but a court, public school, medical service provider or other public organization may not accept them. It is important that you keep official documents, receipts for filing them, and records of those who refuse them in-case you need to point to them at any time or for use as evidence against wrong-doing on your behalf.
We have taken the time to create forms that address some of the concerns that have arisen in the past couple of years on our directives, so you may find that the forms you find here include more options and considerations than those found elsewhere.
You can list the treatments you would want or not want without using a form, but a court, public school, medical service provider or other public organization may not accept them. It is important that you keep official documents, receipts for filing them, and records of those who refuse them in-case you need to point to them at any time or for use as evidence against wrong-doing on your behalf.
Do directives need to be notarized?
It is important to make sure your advance directives are completed as far in advance of needing them as you can so that they can be completed accurately and thoroughly. advance directives need to be signed before an official witness like a notary public. Banks, city halls, and other business have notaries who can witness the signing of your advance directive which will make it official.
Do I need my doctor to sign off on my wishes?
No, you do not need anyone to agree with the choices you want to make for what is done to your own body. Not all doctors have the same knowledge about specific treatments and protocols that you may prefer over another.
It is our recommendation that you seek out a doctor who has the same views as you do so that you can openly discuss any wishes that you may be unclear or have questions about.
The final word on what is done to your body should remain 100% your choice, a medical directive can facilitate that.
It is our recommendation that you seek out a doctor who has the same views as you do so that you can openly discuss any wishes that you may be unclear or have questions about.
The final word on what is done to your body should remain 100% your choice, a medical directive can facilitate that.
Who do I need to tell about my directive?
Be sure to tell certain people about your advance directive. The only way your family, friends, doctors or health care providers will know you have one is if you tell them and/or give them copies. Your directives should be filed (with receipt) into your patient file with all of your health care providers as well as into your personnel file at work and even kept in your car in case of an accident or emergency.
Who do I need to tell about my directive?
Advance Directives are being used for other purposes as well in light of recent events. Some of these include:
- To help serve as a buffer against future employment termination based on a new condition of employment such as a medical treatment mandate for employees. Having an advance medical directive in place when first employed or before a mandate takes effect can help ensure that if your employment is terminated because of non-compliance, you should still be eligible to receive unemployment. It may also provide evidence of discrimination to help attain remedy for financial losses resulting from your termination.
- To ensure that if you or your loved ones are treated against their wishes that there would be evidence of this in writing, so that you have a better chance of being granted restitution for damages due to wrongful injury or financial loss.
- To help avoid being injured by treatments that may be harmful to you given your unique medical history.
- To help protect the relationship you have built with your primary care physician, so that the mandates of public health organizations do not take precedence over or interfere with the treatment plans you have in place.
- To protect children from being coerced or treated in school without parental knowledge or consent.
-To help public organizations see that the potential cost of litigation may outweigh the cost of subsidy loss for noncompliance with discriminatory mandates.
- To help serve as a buffer against future employment termination based on a new condition of employment such as a medical treatment mandate for employees. Having an advance medical directive in place when first employed or before a mandate takes effect can help ensure that if your employment is terminated because of non-compliance, you should still be eligible to receive unemployment. It may also provide evidence of discrimination to help attain remedy for financial losses resulting from your termination.
- To ensure that if you or your loved ones are treated against their wishes that there would be evidence of this in writing, so that you have a better chance of being granted restitution for damages due to wrongful injury or financial loss.
- To help avoid being injured by treatments that may be harmful to you given your unique medical history.
- To help protect the relationship you have built with your primary care physician, so that the mandates of public health organizations do not take precedence over or interfere with the treatment plans you have in place.
- To protect children from being coerced or treated in school without parental knowledge or consent.
-To help public organizations see that the potential cost of litigation may outweigh the cost of subsidy loss for noncompliance with discriminatory mandates.
What if I want to change my medical directive?
You can change your medical directive at any time be creating a new one, having it notarized, getting the old one taken out of your patient or personnel file and replacing it with the new one. Always be sure to get a receipt that it has been received and keep it in your files.
Are directives only good if I become physically unable to speak?
Not anymore.
In the past a medical directive only came into effect if you become physically unable to speak for yourself. However, considering recent event people are using advance directives to take pressure off when situations arise where they feel coerced, pressured, or discriminated against.
In situations where someone is making you feel this way it is helpful to have an official document to point to regarding your officially stated stance.
In the past a medical directive only came into effect if you become physically unable to speak for yourself. However, considering recent event people are using advance directives to take pressure off when situations arise where they feel coerced, pressured, or discriminated against.
In situations where someone is making you feel this way it is helpful to have an official document to point to regarding your officially stated stance.
What is a Medical Directive?
An advance Medical Directive is a legally binding document that tells doctors and medical care providers how you want them to treat you based on choices you have made for future medical care, regardless of whether you are physically able to relay these decisions for yourself.
Once you have a Medical Directive in your patient file, your health-care providers can treat you in accordance with the desires you expressed in your Medical Directive documents.
Once you have a Medical Directive in your patient file, your health-care providers can treat you in accordance with the desires you expressed in your Medical Directive documents.
Are Medical Directives just for doctors?
Not anymore. In light of recent mandates, it has become necessary to document your choices with organizations outside of the medical industry.
We recommend filing your directives with employers, schools, colleges, public health services, sports departments, and any other organization which might seek to pressure you into acting against your will.
By doing this you guard your right to choose, and protect yourself against illegal harassment, discrimination, loss, and injury.
These documents provide a foundation of evidence if you suffer damaged resulting from the willful ignorance of those who have been served documentation of your official choice.
We recommend filing your directives with employers, schools, colleges, public health services, sports departments, and any other organization which might seek to pressure you into acting against your will.
By doing this you guard your right to choose, and protect yourself against illegal harassment, discrimination, loss, and injury.
These documents provide a foundation of evidence if you suffer damaged resulting from the willful ignorance of those who have been served documentation of your official choice.
How do I know if I need A medical Directive?
Medical Directives are something everyone should have if they would like to decide how they should be treated by medical professionals, and public organizations.
How do I make sure my children aren't given vaccines at public school?
A "Medical Directive for Vaccination" is the document you would need for each of your school children.
Fill out the document according to your strongly-held beliefs and file it with your child's school administrators and nurses. Be sure to get a receipt that it has been filed, so that it cannot be claimed lost or never received.
If an administrator refuses to accept your Medical Directive documents write directly on the documents:
"REFUSED BY: _________________________________
with the administrator's full name, along with the date and time while you are there in front of them in their office.
While it can never be guaranteed how anyone will behave when provided your documents, holding evidence that they were notified can help influence them to respect your decisions.
Fill out the document according to your strongly-held beliefs and file it with your child's school administrators and nurses. Be sure to get a receipt that it has been filed, so that it cannot be claimed lost or never received.
If an administrator refuses to accept your Medical Directive documents write directly on the documents:
"REFUSED BY: _________________________________
with the administrator's full name, along with the date and time while you are there in front of them in their office.
While it can never be guaranteed how anyone will behave when provided your documents, holding evidence that they were notified can help influence them to respect your decisions.
What decisions can I make in an advance directive?
Advance Directives allow you to specify which treatment recommendations you would like to accept whether that means all of them, some of them or none of them. You can accept some treatments and refuse or prohibit others.
In the past advance directives did not come into effect unless you were to become unable to physically communicate your wishes. Now though, if a situation arises where you are feeling pressured to make a decision that is against what you have written in your advance directive document, having one on file allows you to to point to it even if you are able to communicate because sometimes it is difficult to communicate when you feel pressured.
In your advance directive, you can choose to receive pain medicines for comfort even if you refuse other treatments. You may be able to accept or refuse other treatments, such as:
- Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to restore breathing and blood circulation. Are you willing to accept heart massage, specific drugs, electric shocks or artificial breathing machines?
- Tube feedings, including giving food and/or water through a tube into a vein or into the stomach. Artificial respiration - Are you willing to be put on a ventilator or respirator?
- Antibiotics to fight infection. You may also write in other infection fighting agents, like high dose vitamin C, lugol's iodine etc., dialysis for kidney failure, as well as the type of dialysis or treatment protocol for your specific issues. Surgeries that you may be offered.
- Blood transfusions or blood products; you can be more specific and also decide whether you would only want blood from your family members or friends, or blood from people who were unvaccinated etc.
The state you live in may try to limit your ability to delegate to someone else the authority to refuse one or more types of treatment, for things like artificial nutrition or water, however it will be easier to insist on wishes that you have documented officially. Some states may require that treatment be continued once it is accepted by your advocate or agent. Therefore, it is very important that you delegate someone who you feel thoroughly understands your wishes and is assertive enough to stand up for them. It can be helpful to speak with a lawyer so you will understand your state's specific laws.
In the past advance directives did not come into effect unless you were to become unable to physically communicate your wishes. Now though, if a situation arises where you are feeling pressured to make a decision that is against what you have written in your advance directive document, having one on file allows you to to point to it even if you are able to communicate because sometimes it is difficult to communicate when you feel pressured.
In your advance directive, you can choose to receive pain medicines for comfort even if you refuse other treatments. You may be able to accept or refuse other treatments, such as:
- Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to restore breathing and blood circulation. Are you willing to accept heart massage, specific drugs, electric shocks or artificial breathing machines?
- Tube feedings, including giving food and/or water through a tube into a vein or into the stomach. Artificial respiration - Are you willing to be put on a ventilator or respirator?
- Antibiotics to fight infection. You may also write in other infection fighting agents, like high dose vitamin C, lugol's iodine etc., dialysis for kidney failure, as well as the type of dialysis or treatment protocol for your specific issues. Surgeries that you may be offered.
- Blood transfusions or blood products; you can be more specific and also decide whether you would only want blood from your family members or friends, or blood from people who were unvaccinated etc.
The state you live in may try to limit your ability to delegate to someone else the authority to refuse one or more types of treatment, for things like artificial nutrition or water, however it will be easier to insist on wishes that you have documented officially. Some states may require that treatment be continued once it is accepted by your advocate or agent. Therefore, it is very important that you delegate someone who you feel thoroughly understands your wishes and is assertive enough to stand up for them. It can be helpful to speak with a lawyer so you will understand your state's specific laws.
Where do I file My Advance Medical Directives?
Advance Medical Directives should be filled out and notarized.
Then you should make copies of your completed directives to keep in your files, give to loved ones and keep in your vehicle.
Next you should take your medical directives to your doctors, nurse practitioners, specialists, medical facility administrators, employers, schools and public organization that you are a part of who might need to know your wishes in the event that a decision must be made relating to the choices you have put into writing on your directive.
Lastly you need to ask for a receipt showing that you filed your directives with each organization so that it cannot be claimed lost or never submitted. If anyone refuses to accept your directive, mark on it the name of the person and organization who refused to file it for you along with the date and time of refusal. Keep receipts and refusals in your files in case they are needed. If your directive is refused, try to file it with another staff member higher up in the chain of command.
If you have been injured or harmed financially by the actions of an organization or individual who has ignored your filed medical directive, you can take your evidence to an attorney who can advise you of what legal remedies may be available to you since you have evidence to prove your claim.
Then you should make copies of your completed directives to keep in your files, give to loved ones and keep in your vehicle.
Next you should take your medical directives to your doctors, nurse practitioners, specialists, medical facility administrators, employers, schools and public organization that you are a part of who might need to know your wishes in the event that a decision must be made relating to the choices you have put into writing on your directive.
Lastly you need to ask for a receipt showing that you filed your directives with each organization so that it cannot be claimed lost or never submitted. If anyone refuses to accept your directive, mark on it the name of the person and organization who refused to file it for you along with the date and time of refusal. Keep receipts and refusals in your files in case they are needed. If your directive is refused, try to file it with another staff member higher up in the chain of command.
If you have been injured or harmed financially by the actions of an organization or individual who has ignored your filed medical directive, you can take your evidence to an attorney who can advise you of what legal remedies may be available to you since you have evidence to prove your claim.
I don't want my parents to die alone in the hospital, how can this help?
A medical directive allows you to elect what is called an "agent" who can advocate for the patient. It is important to have this completed and notarized before it is needed because often times when it is needed it is impossible to get to a notary and directives must be official in order for them to be binding. With a medical directive electing an advocate agent filed no one should have to feel alone in their time of medical need.
How do I choose a representative for if I lose consciousness?
A medical directive allows you to elect what is called an "agent" who can advocate for the patient. It is important to have this completed and notarized before it is needed because often times when it is needed it is impossible to get to a notary and directives must be official in order for them to be binding. On each medical directive there is space where you can elect an advocate agent who can ensure your wishes for your care are granted in the event that you lose the ability to communicate for yourself.
Are Medical Directives just for doctors?
Not anymore. In light of recent mandates, it has become necessary to document your choices with organizations outside of the medical industry.
We recommend filing your directives with employers, schools, colleges, public health services, sports departments, and any other organization which might seek to pressure you into acting against your will.
By doing this you guard your right to choose, and protect yourself against illegal harassment, discrimination, loss and injury.
We recommend filing your directives with employers, schools, colleges, public health services, sports departments, and any other organization which might seek to pressure you into acting against your will.
By doing this you guard your right to choose, and protect yourself against illegal harassment, discrimination, loss and injury.