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Illinois Advanced Directives
An advance directive is a written
statement you prepare about how you want your medical decisions to
be made in the future, if you are no longer able to make them for
yourself. Advanced directives should be completed by all adults age
50 and older and those with chronic medical conditions. A
copy should be on file with your health care provider. You may also
want to send a copy to your local hospital.
Talk with your family, your health
care provider, and any agent or attorney that you appoint about your
advance directives and/or do not resuscitate (DNR) order. If others
know what health care you want, it will be easier to follow your
wishes. If you cancel or change an advance directive or a DNR order
in the future, remember to tell these same people about the change
or cancellation.
It is your decision about when to use
your advanced directives. If there is a question or concern about
implementing your choice, the healthcare provider must discuss it
with you or the individual appointed by you. Care must be provided
until the issue is resolved or your care is transferred to a
different health care provider who will follow your advanced
directives or DNR choice.
The Illinois Department of Public
Health (IDPH) provides a copy of these forms and a copy of the IDPH
Uniform Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Advance Directive. Please visit
their website at
http://www.idph.state.il.us/public/books/advin.htm for the
forms.
| Name of Directive |
How it works |
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Health Care Power of Attorney |
Lets you choose
someone to make health-care decisions for you in the future if
you are no longer able to make these decisions for yourself. So
long as you are able to make these decisions, you will have the
power to do so. |
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Living Will |
Tells your
health-care professional whether you want death-delaying
procedures used if you have a terminal condition and are unable
to state your wishes. A living will, unlike a health care power
of attorney, only applies if you have a terminal condition. |
DNR
Do not Resuscitate |
DNR is a medical
treatment order stating that cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
will not be attempted if your heart and/or breathing stops. If a
DNR order is entered into your medical record, appropriate
medical treatment other than CPR will be given to you. |
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Mental Health Treatment Preference
Declaration |
Lets you say if you
want to receive electroconvulsive treatment (ECT) or
psychotropic medicine when you have a mental illness and are
unable to make these decisions for yourself. It also allows you
to say whether you wish to be admitted to a mental health
facility for up to 17 days of treatment. |
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