YOUR HEALTHCARE:
Give Your Family Peace of Mind

California law provides each of us with the ability to make sure our health care wishes are known and complied with in the event we are unable to make these decisions ourselves. The Advance Health Care Directive is the result of a new law that became effective July 1, 2000.

What is an Advance Health Care Directive: (AHCD)
Under the new law, AHCDs include individual health care instructions regarding health care decisions for you and power of attorney for health care (similar to the former durable powers of attorney for health care.) The AHCD also encompasses what was formerly included in a "living will" since individual health care instructions can now include your wishes about refusing or accepting life-sustaining treatment. An AHCD allows you to do either or both of two things. First, you may appoint another person to be your health care "agent". This agent (also known as your attorney-in-fact") will have legal authority to make decisions about your medical care if you become unable to make these decisions yourself. Second, you may write down your health care wishes in the AHCD form - for example, a desire not to receive treatment that only prolongs the dying process if you are terminally ill. Your doctor and your agent must follow lawful instructions. You can appoint a family member, friend or someone you trust to be your agent.