Not all advance directives created equal

Some – particularly of the short form variety – push signers toward refusing care. Others, take the decisions out of the hands of family. . . .  Living wills allow the patient state ahead of time what is not wanted and what is. But that can be problematic. The precise circumstances often cannot be known in advance. And it is up to the doctor to determine when the living will takes effect. . . . That can create a conflict of interest between patient and doctor, or require the doctor to make assumptions about what a patient might or might not want if circumstance faced is not directly mentioned in the living will. . . .

The best advance directive is the durable power of attorney for health care (as it is called in CA–it may have a different name in your jurisdiction). It allows the signer to name a known and trusted person to make decisions in times of incapacity, as well as to give general directions about future care. It also allows the designated person to obtain medical records–which can be difficult under HIPPA privacy laws. With a durable power, there is no need to anticipate every exigency, merely find a trusted person capable of making decisions according to your own values. Secondhand Smoke

Baptists for Life has a Protective Medical Decisions Declaration that helps signers guide their proxy decision-makers. It is available for download free of charge and is made to accompany Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care forms for all fifty states available for download free of charge from National Right to Life.