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Documents used along the form

The California Advanced Health Care Directive is a vital document that outlines your healthcare preferences and appoints someone to make decisions on your behalf if you become unable to do so. However, it often works in conjunction with other important forms and documents. Below is a list of commonly used documents that complement the Advanced Health Care Directive.

  • Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care: This document allows you to designate an individual to make medical decisions for you if you are unable to communicate your wishes.
  • Living Will: A living will specifies your wishes regarding medical treatment in situations where you are terminally ill or in a persistent vegetative state.
  • Power of Attorney for Financial Matters: This form allows you to appoint someone to manage your financial affairs when you are unable to do so. For ease of use, you can start with an editable form download to ensure your financial interests are protected.
  • Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Order: This order instructs medical personnel not to perform CPR if your heart stops or you stop breathing.
  • Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST): This form translates your treatment preferences into medical orders for emergency personnel and healthcare providers.
  • Organ Donation Registration: This document indicates your wishes regarding organ donation after death, ensuring your preferences are honored.
  • Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Release: This form allows you to authorize specific individuals to access your medical records and health information.
  • Emergency Contact List: A simple list of individuals to be contacted in case of a medical emergency, ensuring your loved ones are informed quickly.
  • Medication List: A comprehensive list of all medications you are currently taking, which can help healthcare providers make informed decisions.
  • Medical History Summary: A document detailing your past medical conditions, surgeries, and treatments, providing essential context for your healthcare providers.

Having these documents in place alongside your California Advanced Health Care Directive can provide clarity and ensure your healthcare preferences are respected. It is important to review and update these documents regularly to reflect any changes in your health or personal wishes.

Similar forms

The California Advanced Health Care Directive is similar to a Living Will. A Living Will is a document that outlines an individual's preferences for medical treatment in situations where they are unable to communicate their wishes. Like the Advanced Health Care Directive, a Living Will allows individuals to specify the types of medical interventions they do or do not want, particularly at the end of life. Both documents serve to ensure that a person's healthcare choices are respected, even when they cannot speak for themselves, providing clarity to healthcare providers and loved ones about the individual’s desires.

Another document that shares similarities with the California Advanced Health Care Directive is the Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care. This document designates a specific person, often referred to as an agent or proxy, to make healthcare decisions on behalf of the individual if they become incapacitated. While the Advanced Health Care Directive allows for both the specification of medical preferences and the appointment of an agent, the Durable Power of Attorney focuses primarily on appointing someone to act in the individual's best interest. Both documents empower individuals to maintain control over their healthcare decisions, even when they are unable to advocate for themselves.

The Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order is another important document that is similar to the California Advanced Health Care Directive. A DNR order specifically instructs medical personnel not to perform CPR or other resuscitative measures if a person's heart stops or they stop breathing. While the Advanced Health Care Directive encompasses broader healthcare decisions, including end-of-life care preferences, the DNR focuses on a specific aspect of treatment. Both documents aim to honor the individual's wishes regarding life-sustaining measures, ensuring that their values and preferences are respected in critical situations.

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The Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) form is also comparable to the California Advanced Health Care Directive. The POLST is a medical order that translates a patient’s wishes regarding life-sustaining treatments into actionable medical orders. Unlike the Advanced Health Care Directive, which is often filled out by individuals in advance of a medical crisis, the POLST is typically completed in consultation with a healthcare provider when a patient has a serious illness or is nearing the end of life. Both documents serve to communicate a person's healthcare preferences, but the POLST is designed to be more immediate and actionable in emergency situations.

Lastly, the Health Care Proxy is another document that bears resemblance to the California Advanced Health Care Directive. A Health Care Proxy allows an individual to appoint someone to make healthcare decisions on their behalf if they are unable to do so. This document is similar to the agent designation in the Advanced Health Care Directive. While the Advanced Health Care Directive includes both the appointment of a proxy and specific treatment preferences, the Health Care Proxy primarily focuses on the appointment aspect. Both documents aim to ensure that individuals have a voice in their healthcare, even when they are unable to express their wishes directly.

Steps to Filling Out California Advanced Health Care Directive

After obtaining the California Advanced Health Care Directive form, you will need to complete it to ensure your health care preferences are documented. Follow the steps below to fill out the form accurately.

  1. Begin by entering your full name and address at the top of the form.
  2. Designate your health care agent by providing their name and contact information. This person will make decisions on your behalf if you are unable to do so.
  3. Specify any limitations or specific instructions regarding the authority of your health care agent.
  4. Indicate your preferences for medical treatment in the section provided. Be clear about your wishes regarding life-sustaining treatments.
  5. Sign and date the form in the designated area. Ensure that your signature is clear and legible.
  6. Have the form witnessed by two individuals who are not related to you and do not stand to benefit from your estate. They should also sign and date the form.
  7. If you prefer, you may choose to have the document notarized instead of having witnesses. In this case, take the form to a notary public for signature.
  8. Make copies of the completed form for your records and distribute copies to your health care agent and any relevant medical providers.