Advance Directives (Living Will)

You have the right to make important legal decisions in advance about your health care. “Advance Directives” are documents written in advance of the time when you are unable to make health care decisions for yourself. By law, the lack of advance directives does not hamper your access to care.

Advance Directives

• Out-of-Hospital Do-Not-Resuscitate Order: a written form directing healthcare professionals in out-of-hospital settings not to initiate or continue certain medical interventions.Declaration for Mental Health Treatment: a written directive specifying preferences or instructions regarding mental health treatment.
• Organ and Tissue Donation: a written statement, signed by the donor or legally authorized representative, authorizing the donation of organs and/or tissues after death.
• Medical Power of Attorney: a written directive designating a person or persons to make healthcare decisions if the patient becomes unable to make his/her own decisions. (Prior to September 1, 1999, this document was known as a “Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care”.)
• Directive to Physicians and Family or Surrogates: a written directive specifying choices for life-sustaining treatment in the event of a terminal or irreversible condition, including wishes regarding life support. (Prior to September 1, 1999, this document was known as a “Directive to Physicians/Living Will” and only addressed terminal condition and did NOT provide the option to request being kept alive using available life-sustaining treatment.) SETON offers assistance to patients who choose to revoke the Directive to Physicians/Living Will and execute the Directive to Physicians and Family or Surrogates. However, a patient may wish to consult with an attorney or other resources for specific advice before doing so.
• Please note: Advance Directives signed before September 1, 1999, remain valid. Patients are NOT required to sign the updated versions.

Forms

Medical Power of Attorney form provided by the Texas Partnership of End-of-Life Care
English | en Español

Living Will provided by the Texas Partnership of End-of-Life Care
English | en Español

Uniform Donor Form
English | en Español

Advance Directive information is available from the admitting staff, nurses, chaplains, social workers, case managers and patient representatives, or at the Information Desk of your Seton healthcare facility.