Question

Take a health care proxy form and discuss the different parts with the person. Speak about the purpose of having a health care proxy. Explain the difference between a health care proxy and a living will. Explain the difference between a DNR and a DNI. Talk to the person about what their wishes might be for treatment should they be unable to speak for themselves.

Answer 1

Health care proxy

A healthcare proxy is a legal document with which a patient appoints an agent to legally make healthcare decisions on behalf of the patient, when he or she is incapable of making and executing the healthcare decisions.

About the health proxy form:

• This form gives the person you choose as your agent the authority to make all health care decisions for you, including the decision to remove or provide life-sustaining treatment, unless you say otherwise in this form. “Health care” means any treatment, service or procedure to diagnose or treat your physical or mental condition.

• Your agent will start making decisions for you when your doctor determines that you are not able to make health care decisions for yourself.

• You may write on this form examples of the types of treatments that you would not desire and/ or those treatments that you want to make sure you receive.The instructions may be used to limit the decision-making power of the agent. Your agent must follow your instructions when making decisions for you.

• You may choose any adult (18 years of age or older), including a family member or close friend, to be your agent.

• Before appointing someone as your health care agent, discuss it with him or her to make surethat he or she is willing to act as your agent. Tell the person you choose that he or she will be your health care agent and discuss your health care wishes and this form with your agent.Be sure to give him or her a signed copy.

• Write the name, home address and telephone number of the person you are selecting as your agent.If you want to appoint an alternate agent, write the name, home address and telephone number of the person you are selecting as your alternate agent.

• Your Health Care Proxy will remain valid indefinitely unless you set an expiration date or condition for its expiration. This section is optional and should be filled in only if you want your Health Care Proxy to expire.

• you can state special instructions for your agent. Also,if you wish, you can limit your agent’s authority in any way, that has to be written in the form.

• You must date and sign this Health Care Proxy form. If you are unable to sign yourself, you may direct someone else to sign in your presence. Be sure to include your address.

• Two witnesses 18 years of age or older must sign this Health Care Proxy form. The person who is appointed your agent or alternate agent cannot sign as a witness.

Purposes:

• The Health Care Proxy Law gives you the power to ensure that health care professionals know your wishes regarding medical treatment. Your health care agent can also decide how your wishes apply as your medical condition changes.
• Health care proxy allow the health care agent individual to make some of the harder decisions about your health if you even become unable to make them by yourself.

• It helps to voice your preferences about what life-saving procedures you'd want to be performed or the medications you'd want to be administered to you as well.

Difference between a health care proxy and a living will

Health care proxy	Living will
A healthcare proxy is a legal document with which a patient appoints an agent to legally make healthcare decisions on behalf of the patient, when he or she is incapable of making and executing the healthcare decisions . Here , you can appoint another person as a health care agent and make your wish to be followed when you are unable to do .	A living will is a document that specifies what type of medical treatments a person would or would not want if he were unable to communicate. These treatments may include resuscitation, artificial nutrition and hydration and mechanical ventilation. Here , the person himself list down his wish to be followed when he is unable to do.

Difference between DNR and DNI

DNR stands for" Do Not Resuscitate" A DNR order must be written by a health care provider,documents the patient's wish to avoid CPR in the event that he or she is unresponsive and apneic,with or without pulses.The order addresses resuscitstion interventions, which may include rescue breathing,chest compression, defibrillation,and advanced cardiovascular life support.

DNI stands for "Do Not Intubate" DNI directs caregivers not to intubate the patient and initiate mechanical ventilation in the event of acute respiratory distressor apnea.