Legal

A directive allows you to plan your medical treatment in advance should there ever come a time when you are unable to express your personal health care wishes.

A Health Care Directive is also known as:

• Advance Directive
• Living Will Form
• Advance Health Care Directive
• Advance Medical Directive
• Living Will
• Advance Decision Form

A Medical Power of Attorney is a document used to appoint someone to make medical decisions on your behalf.

A Medical Power of Attorney is also known as:

• Health Care Power of Attorney
• Health Care Proxy
• Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care
• Power of Attorney Medical

A Medical Records Release Form is also known as a:

• Medical Records Authorization
• Request for Medical Records
• Medical Records Request
• Medical Information Release Form

A Medical Records Release Form is used to request that a health care provider (physician, dentist, hospital, chiropractor, psychiatrist, etc.) release a patient's medical records, to the patient, a third 6.

A Last Will and Testament is a legal document you can use to control the distribution of your estate and protect your loved ones after you pass away.

party (such as an employer or insurance company), or both.

A Living Will is a document that you use to indicate your medical wishes in the event you are incapacitated or cannot consent to your health care treatment.

Is a Living Will the same as a Health Care Directive?

Some states use the terms Living Will and Health Care Directive interchangeably, and some states use one term but not the other. Generally, a Living Will and a Health Care Directive both dictate your health care preferences in the event of a medical emergency or incapacitation.

A Health Care Directive may also be used to refer to a document that contains a Living Will and a Medical Power of Attorney. In addition, different states have varying requirements in what constitutes a Living Will or Health Care Directive.

It's important to check your state's laws regarding these documents to determine exactly which documents you need to express your wishes.