(This is just an example. Please consult your attorney if you wish to have one.)
A Directive to Withhold or to Provide Treatment
To my family, my relatives, my friends, my physicians, my employers, and all others to whom it may concern:
Directive made this ____ day of ____ 20___, I, _________________________________(name), being of sound mind, willfully, and voluntarily make known my desire that my life shall not be prolonged artificially under the circumstances set forth below, do hereby declare:
If at any time I should have an incurable injury, disease, illness or condition certified to be terminal by two medical doctors who have examined me, and where the application of life-sustaining procedures of any kind would serve only to prolong artificially the moment of my death, and where a medical doctor determines that my death is imminent, whether or not life-sustaining procedures are utilized, or I have been diagnosed as being in a persistent vegetative state, I direct that the following marked expression of my intent be
followed and that I be permitted to die naturally, and that I receive any medical treatment or care that may be required to keep me free of pain or distress.
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[ ] If at any time I should become unable to communicate my instructions, then I direct that all medical treatment, care, and nutrition and hydration necessary to restore my health, sustain my life, and to abolish or alleviate pain or distress be provided to me.
Nutrition and hydration shall not be withheld or withdrawn from me if I would die from malnutrition or dehydration rather than from my injury, disease, illness or condition.
[ ] If at any time I should become unable to communicate my instructions and where the application of artificial life-sustaining procedures shall serve only to prolong artificially the moment of my death, I direct such procedures be withheld or withdrawn except for the administration of nutrition and hydration.
[ ] If at any time I should become unable to communicate my instructions and where the application of artificial life-sustaining procedures shall serve only to prolong artificially the moment of my death, I direct such procedures be withheld or withdrawn including withdrawal of the administration of nutrition and hydration.
In the absence of my ability to give directions regarding the use of life-sustaining procedures, I herby appoint:
__________________________________(name) currently residing at
_______________________________
_____________________________, as my attorney-in-fact/proxy for the making of decisions relating to my health care in my place; and it is my intention that this appointment shall be honored by him/her, by my family, relatives, friends, physicians and lawyer as the final expression of my legal right to refuse medical or surgical treatment; and I accept the consequences of such a decision. I have duly executed a Durable Power of Attorney for health care decisions on this date.
In the absence of my ability to give further directions regarding my treatment, including life-sustaining procedures, it is my intention that this directive shall be honored by my family and physicians as the final expression of my legal right to refuse or accept medical and surgical treatment, and I accept the consequences of such refusal.
If I have been diagnosed as pregnant and that diagnosis is known to any interest person, this directive shall have no force during the course of my pregnancy.
I understand the full importance of this directive and am emotionally and mentally competent to make this directive. No participant in the making of this directive or in its being carried into effect, whether it be a medical doctor, my spouse, a relative, friend or any other person shall be held responsible in any way, legally, professionally or socially, for complying with my directions.
Signed: _____________________________________
City, County, and State of Residence:
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
The declarant has been known to me personally and I believe him/her to be of sound mind.
Witness__________________________________ Witness _________________________________
Address __________________________________ Address ________________________________