Advance Directives

James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital, Tampa

Advance Directives are a set of "orders" which tell your doctor what kinds of treatments you will accept or refuse if you are terminally ill and not able to communicate. You can also choose, through your Advance Directives, to name someone to make medical care decisions for you if you are too ill to do so. VA Advance Directives include three (3) forms:

• The Living Will: This is not a "last will and testament." It is the set of directions you want to give your doctor about what kinds of treatments you will accept or refuse when you are terminally ill.
   
• Durable Power of Attorney: You may name a person to make medical care decisions for you (a health care surrogate) if you are too ill to do so yourself. You should tell this person what you want in medical care, so he or she will know what your wishes are. We suggest that you make sure that the person you name is comfortable with the possibility of making those decisions for you, and that you discuss exactly what treatments you would want or refuse.
   
• Treatment Preferences: You can list exact treatments you do or do not want in the event of terminal illness (illness resulting in death) or debilitating condition (making a person so weak that he/she is not able to function) with no hope for recovery. Such treatments include, but are not limited to, resuscitation, tube feeding, breathing machines.

The VA Advance Directives must be signed by two (2) witnesses who are not related to you by blood or marriage.

Advance Directives forms are available from any of the social workers assigned to the inpatient wards and outpatient clinics. Please ask your health care provider how to contact the social worker in your area. You may call the Social Work office at 813-972-2000, ext. 7534, if you do not know who your social worker is. There are also many state-approved forms available (the Patients’ Library, Room A237, has some of these). The VA will accept any form approved by the State of Florida.

You may cancel your Advance Directives at any time just by :

• Writing "cancel" on each copy of the Directive, and dating it, and
• Telling your doctor and asking that your Advance Directive copy in your medical record be canceled

You can change your Advance Directives just by filling out new forms - but make sure the new copy is placed in your medical record by your social worker.

Keep copies of your Advance Directives forms in your wallet or in a handy place. Give a copy to your doctor, so that it can be placed in your medical record. Give another copy to the person whom you have chosen to speak for you (through the Durable Power of Attorney). Give a third copy to any person who will be able to show it to your doctor if it is suddenly needed.

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