Directive to Physicians and Family or Surrogates / 12-2015-E
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DIRECTIVE TO PHYSICIANS AND FAMILY OR SURROGATES
Advance Directives Act (see §166.033, Health and Safety Code)
Instructions for completing this document:
This is an important legal document known as an Advance Directive. It is designed to help you communicate your
wishes about medical treatment at some time in the future when you are unable to make your wishes known because
of illness or injury. These wishes are usually based on personal values. In particular, you may want to consider what
burdens or hardships of treatment you would be willing to accept for a particular amount of benefit obtained if you
were seriously ill.
You are encouraged to discuss your values and wishes with your family or chosen spokesperson, as well as your
physician. Your physician, other health care provider, or medical institution may provide you with various resources to
assist you in completing your advance directive. Brief definitions are listed below and may aid you in your discussions
and advance planning. Initial the treatment choices that best reflect your personal preferences. Provide a copy of your
directive to your physician, usual hospital, and family or spokesperson. Consider a periodic review of this document.
By periodic review, you can best assure that the directive reflects your preferences.
In addition to this advance directive, Texas law provides for two other types of directives that can be important during
a serious illness. These are the Medical Power of Attorney and the Out-of-Hospital Do-Not-Resuscitate Order. You
may wish to discuss these with your physician, family, hospital representative, or other advisers. You may also wish
to complete a directive related to the donation of organs and tissues.
DIRECTIVE
I,
, recognize that the best health care is based upon
a partnership of trust and communication with my physician. My physician and I will make health care or treatment
decisions together as long as I am of sound mind and able to make my wishes known. If there comes a time that I am
unable to make medical decisions about myself because of illness or injury, I direct that the following treatment
preferences be honored:
If, in the judgment of my physician, I am suffering with a terminal condition from which I am expected to die within six
months, even with available life-sustaining treatment provided in accordance with prevailing standards of medical
care:
I request that all treatments other than those needed to keep me comfortable be discontinued or withheld
and my physician allow me to die as gently as possible; OR
I request that I be kept alive in this terminal condition using available life-sustaining treatment.
(THIS SELECTION DOES NOT APPLY TO HOSPICE CARE.)
If, in the judgment of my physician, I am suffering with an irreversible condition so that I cannot care for myself or
make decisions for myself and am expected to die without life-sustaining treatment provided in accordance with
prevailing standards of medical care:
I request that all treatments other than those needed to keep me comfortable be discontinued or withheld
and my physician allow me to die as gently as possible; OR
I request that I be kept alive in this irreversible condition using available life-sustaining treatment.
(THIS SELECTION DOES NOT APPLY TO HOSPICE CARE.)