All adults in Aizona have a right to prepare a document called an "Advance Directive" to put their wishes regarding medical care in writing. An Advance Directive lets other people know the types of medical care you do and do not want in the event you are unable to express your wishes on your own. There are two kinds of Advance Directives:
Appointment of an Agent
You may authorize another person, such as a spouse, child, or friend, to be your "agent" or "proxy" to make decisions for you if you become incapable of making informed health care decisions for yourself. You can also specifically tell your agent what kinds of care you do and do not want. This authorization is, in legal terms, often called a "Power of Attorney for Health Care."
Living Will
You may also state what kinds of life-prolonging treatment you want or do not want if you are diagnosed as having a terminal condition and you are unable to express your own wishes. The legal term for this is a "living will."
Why Create an Advance Directive?
An Advance Directive allows you to state your choices for health care or to name someone to make those choices for you, if you become unable to make decisions about your medical treatment. It enables you to say "yes" to treatment you want, or "no" to treatment you do not want.
What Kind of Advance Directive do I Need?
You may execute a power of attorney for health care, a living will, or both. Of the two kinds of Advance Directives, a power of attorney for health care is broader. A living will is limited to situations in which you are diagnosed with a terminal condition and it only applies to life-prolonging treatment. The best way to protect your interests, however, is to execute both
Can My Family or Physicians Override My Decisions if I am Unable to Speak for Myself?
No. This is one of the major reasons to create an Advance Directive.
For more information on Advance Directives and forms, please click on the links below:
Healthcare Agents: Choosing One and Being One
Preparing Your Advance Directives
Storing Your Advance Directives
Download the Arizona Advance Directives Form
Download the Arizona Advance Directive Form
