Legal Definitions - health care declaration

A health care declaration is a legal document that explains how a person wants to be taken care of if they become unable to make decisions for themselves. It tells doctors and family members what kind of medical treatment the person wants or doesn't want. This document may also be called a health care directive, living will, advance declaration, or directive to physicians.

• If someone has a health care declaration, they can specify whether they want to be resuscitated if their heart stops beating.
• A person can also indicate if they want to be kept alive by machines if they are in a coma or have a terminal illness.
• Someone with a health care declaration can appoint a proxy to make medical decisions for them if they are unable to do so themselves.

These examples illustrate how a health care declaration can help ensure that a person's medical preferences are respected, even if they are unable to communicate them at the time. It can also help reduce stress and confusion for family members who may be unsure of what to do in a medical emergency.