What is an Advance Health Care Directive?

California has enacted a statutory advance health care directive form which is often used to authorize health care decisions because it can be extensively modified to personalize the principal's wishes and instructions for care. It allows you to give another person who you trust the power to make medical decisions for you when you are incapacitated. This person may only have legal authority to make decisions about your medical care if you become unable to make these decisions for yourself. It also allows you to give instructions about your health care. Your Health Care providers and your health care agent must follow your lawful instructions. The Advance Health Care Directive has replaced the Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care.

Download: An Advance Health Care Directive Form

Next: Is an Advance Health Care Directive different from a living will?