Advance directives, also commonly referred to as living wills, serve as vital documents that specify predetermined actions to be taken concerning your healthcare in the event you become incapacitated or unable to make decisions due to illness. These legally binding documents outline your preferences regarding various medical interventions, including life support and resuscitation, and are intended to guide both your healthcare team and your family members.
Once you have established your Advance Directives, it’s crucial to ensure that your family members are informed about their existence and where they are kept. Additionally, it’s advisable to share a copy with your primary care provider, so it can be included as a part of your medical records. Remember to provide an updated copy if your directives ever change.
Living Will
A living will is a written declaration that outlines your preferences regarding life-prolonging medical care in the event you experience a medical condition from which there is no hope of recovery, or you become permanently unconscious or remain in a vegetative state with the inability to make your own medical decisions. In a Living Will, you have the option to specify whether certain life-sustaining procedures should be withheld or withdrawn if you find yourself in a terminal condition and are unable to make these decisions independently.
It’s important to note that a Living Will does not encompass medications or medical procedures that offer comfort or alleviate pain; these are not considered life-sustaining and are not affected by the Living Will. For the document to be legally valid, it should be signed, dated, and witnessed by two individuals, preferably those who are well-acquainted with you, yet unrelated to you, your potential heirs, or your healthcare providers. A witness cannot be:
- Your primary care provider or other treating healthcare provider
- An employee of your treating healthcare provider
- The person you named as your healthcare attorney
- An individual who is less than 18 years of age.
In Iowa, your Living Will can be signed in front of two witnesses or by a notary public.
Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care
A Durable Power of Attorney (DPOA) is a legal document that designates another person to make healthcare decisions on your behalf in the event you become unable to make them for yourself. This can also include specific instructions about the choices you want to be made.
When you create a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care, you’re essentially selecting a trusted individual who will act as your healthcare decision-maker if you are ever unable to do so, ensuring your preferences are honored. It’s crucial to choose someone you trust and who is willing to take on this responsibility, and equally important to have a discussion with them about your healthcare wishes.
For a DPOA to be legally valid in Iowa, it must be witnessed. You can accomplish this by having your DPOA signed in front of two witnesses or by a notary public, following the same requirements as for a living will.