What Should be Included in an Advance Healthcare Directive?
An effective AHD should cover several key aspects:
1. Treatment Preferences: Specify which treatments you do or do not want. For example, you may want to decline aggressive interventions like mechanical ventilation or feeding tubes if your prognosis is poor. 2. Resuscitation Orders: Indicate whether you wish to have CPR performed in the event of cardiac arrest. 3. Pain Management: Outline your preferences for pain relief and symptom management. 4. Organ Donation: State whether you wish to donate your organs or tissues after death. 5. Healthcare Proxy: Designate a trusted individual to make healthcare decisions on your behalf if you become incapacitated.
