End of life decisions document code#

You should keep one copy of your advance directives with your other important legal documents. Where should I keep my advance directives? The EMS-DNR (Emergency Medical Services Non-Resuscitation Order) is a document obtained from and signed by your physician, at your request, which prohibits emergency personnel from employing resuscitative measures if you are terminally ill. What is the Emergency Medical Services Non-Resuscitation (EMS DNR) order? Similar to a DNR order, the DNI is a doctor’s order in your medical record which expresses your desire to not be placed on a ventilator to help you breathe.ĩ. What is a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order?Ī DNR order is a doctor’s order in your medical record indicating your desire to prevent the administration of cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or electrical shocks and assistance with breathing when an event occurs in a health care facility.Ĩ. The person does not necessarily have to be a spouse or close family member but should be someone who is readily available to health care providers if needed.ħ. You should choose someone close to you who knows your values and wishes and is strong enough to make tough decisions to carry out your wishes if needed. Who should I choose to make health care decisions for me when I can’t? If you choose to have both, you should be sure you are expressing consistent wishes in both.Ħ. To establish that you are permanently unconscious could require up to six hours of active treatment. The Living Will is only applicable for decisions if you are terminally ill or permanently unconscious. It is the most comprehensive of the advance directive forms. No, the Health Care Power of Attorney document allows you to name an agent to make decisions for you when you cannot make your own decisions. Do I need both a Living Will and Health Care Power of Attorney? The Five Wishes document is available for $5 per copy online or by calling 1-88.ĥ. You can obtain copies at by calling 1-80 or at the website of any of the partnering organizations shown on the brochure. The Health Care Power of Attorney and Living Will forms are widely available at no cost. The Five Wishes document allows you to communicate your wishes to your family, friends and healthcare providers including decisions about medical treatments you may elect to receive or decline, what you want your loved ones to know about your health and who you would want to make sure your wishes are followed. Other documents that meet state standards including the Five Wishes document are accepted as advance directives in SC.

End of life decisions document code#

Living Will (SC Code of Laws Title 44 Chapter 77)-also known as the Declaration of Desire for a Natural Death, this form allows you to express your choices about your care ONLY if you are terminally ill or permanently unconscious. SC law provides for several “statutory” forms: Health Care Power of Attorney (SC Code of Laws Title 62 Chapter 5)-allows you to designate someone to make all health care decisions for you when you temporarily or permanently cannot make them for yourself. Where can I get copies of the SC statutory advance directives forms?

Many people choose to complete their advance directives at an important life event such as a marriage or birth of a child and often as they are completing other legal documents such as a will.Ĥ. When should I complete my advance directives?Īdvance directives should be completed by competent adults 18 years of age or older while they are still capable of making decisions for themselves. Advance directives go into effect ONLY when you are not capable of making decisions for yourself.ģ. Advance directives help your loved ones and health care providers know what kind of health care you want. Advance care planning is a process in which you explore your values and wishes about your health care, learn about treatment options and decisions you may face, talk with your loved ones and health care providers about your wishes and record your wishes.Īn advance directive is a written record of your wishes regarding your health care that you make while you are able to do so and long before there is a medical crisis.