ADVANCE DIRECTIVES

In North Carolina, advanced directives refer to legal documents that allow individuals to outline their preferences for medical care in case they become unable to communicate their wishes due to illness or injury. These directives provide guidance to healthcare providers and loved ones about a person’s desires regarding life-sustaining treatment, organ donation, and other medical decisions.

There are several types of advanced directives in North Carolina:

1. Living Will: This document specifies an individual’s preferences for medical treatment if they are in a terminal condition or a state of permanent unconsciousness, and unable to communicate their wishes. It typically addresses issues like life-sustaining treatments, such as mechanical ventilation, resuscitation, or feeding tubes.
2. Healthcare Power of Attorney (HCPOA): This document allows an individual to appoint someone (a “healthcare agent”) to make medical decisions on their behalf if they are unable to do so. The healthcare agent can make decisions about medical treatment, surgeries, and other healthcare matters based on the individual’s known wishes or best interests.
3. Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Orders: Although not technically an advanced directive document, a DNR order is a specific request made by a person (or their healthcare agent) to not attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) if the person stops breathing or their heart stops.
4. Physician Orders for Scope of Treatment (POST): This is a medical order signed by a physician that outlines the scope of treatment for individuals with serious illnesses or at the end of life. It includes preferences about life-sustaining measures such as resuscitation and ventilation.

These advanced directives are important tools for ensuring that a person’s healthcare wishes are respected when they cannot speak for themselves. They can be created and revised at any time, as long as the person is mentally competent.

It’s recommended to discuss these documents with family members, healthcare providers, and legal advisors to ensure that one’s wishes are understood and legally valid.