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You may
use advance directives to tell your
doctors and your family what medical
treatment you do or do not want if you
should become unable to make these
decisions yourself. A living will is your
statement that you do not want to be
kept alive by artificial means if you are
terminally and incurably ill, or if you are
in a persistent vegetative state. You may
use a health care power of attorney to
name a health care agent who will make
your medical decisions when you are
unable to do so.
Many people, as well as some medical providers, do not fully understand advance directives. How much do you know? Take the quiz below and find out. |
| 1. | After a patient is connected to life support systems, it is legally difficult to withdraw him or her from the life support systems. |
| 2. | Without a living will, the doctors and hospital must put and keep a terminally and incurably ill patient on life support systems, regardless of the cost. |
| 3. | Emergency Medical Services (EMS) must be given a copy of your living will if they are called to resuscitate you. |
| 4. | If you have a living will, you should also have a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Order. |
| 5. | You revoke your living will by tearing it up. |
| 6. | Your health care agent has the right to make all health care decisions on your behalf under a health care power of attorney and can make decisions over your objections. |
| 7. | More often than not, it is one or more family members who prevent a patient's living will from being honored by the doctor and medical provider. |
| 8. | A living will from another state is not valid in North Carolina. |
| 9. | A hospital or nursing home can insist that someone being admitted must sign a living will. |
| 10. | The law is more concerned about protecting doctors than it is about honoring a patient's wishes. |
After completing the quiz, print a copy of your answers, and grade yourself using the Answer Page.
Prepared by Carol A. Schwab, J.D., LL.M., Professor and Extension Specialist, NC State University.
This publication is provided as a public service and is designed to acquaint you with certain legal issues and concerns. It is not designed as a substitute for legal advice, nor does it tell you everything you may need to know about this subject. Future changes in the law cannot be predicted, and statements in this publication are based solely on the laws in force on the date of publication.
Date: March 2001
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University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service Department of Family and Consumer Sciences |
North Carolina Bar
Association Elder Law Section |
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