Understanding the Importance of Advance Medical Directives

We understand that it can be a difficult subject to think about for many people, but it’s important for people to make time for advance medical directives. Advance directives are written, legal instructions regarding a person’s preferences for medical care if they are ever in a condition where they are unable to make decisions for themselves. Although this kind of documentation is typically associated with people who are terminally ill, seriously injured, in a coma, or in the late stages of their life, advance medical directives are not just for older adults. Unexpected end-of-life situations can happen at any age, so it’s important to be prepared.

Advance directives can help ensure that you get the medical care you want while lessening the burden on the people that you love most. The most common advance directive is a living will. A living will is a written, legal document that specifies which medical treatments you would (and would not) want to be used to keep you alive. It can also specify your preferences for other pertinent medical decisions like pain management or organ donation. Other advance directives to consider include which person you will grant power of attorney in your absence as well as a do not resuscitate (DNR) order.

In order to help our patients navigate the challenges of aging, serious illness, disability, or loneliness Abraham Family Medicine utilizes the Five Wishes document for advance directives. The most commonly used advance directive in the US, Five Wishes separates itself from other similar directives by providing essential information in simple, easy-to-understand language instead of legal and medical jargon. Five Wishes includes all the instructions and information necessary to create a valid advance directive while focusing on the personal, spiritual, medical, and legal wishes of each person.

We know this can be a tough subject, but there’s no such thing as being too prepared when it comes to matters this important. Hopefully you found this information helpful and informative. This is obviously a complicated matter, so if you have any questions of your own, please don’t hesitate to contact Abraham Family Medicine and schedule an appointment with one of our healthcare providers. Our office is located in Snellville, not far from Grayson, Dacula, and Lilburn.