Living Will and Medical Care Decisions

Living Will and Medical Care Decisions

If you are age 18 or older and mentally competent, you have the right to make decisions about your medical care. Advance Directives are legal forms that record those decisions.

There are three kinds of Advance Directives.

Living Will

Allows the statement of your wishes about receiving or withholding life-supportive medical care, such as the use of a respirator or ventilator or food and water through a tube. The living will can only be put into use in cases of persistent vegetative state or terminal illness with an inability to make or communicate decisions.

Here is a list of frequently asked questions and forms for completing advanced directives.

Living Will Frequently Asked Questions [66 KB PDF]

Living Will Form [115 KB PDF]

Health Care Power of Attorney (Health Care Proxy)

Allows you name a person to make health care decisions for you if you become unable to decide for yourself.

Advance Instruction for Mental Health Treatment

Allows you to give instructions and preferences about mental health treatment. You may select someone to make these decisions for you if you lose the ability to decide for yourself. This document automatically expires in two years.

If you already have a North Carolina Advance Directive, we must have a copy in order to follow your wishes. If you cannot give us a copy, or if you do not have a North Carolina Advance Directive, we will be happy to assist you in completing the appropriate paperwork while you are here.

If you have an Advance Directive from another state, if cannot be used in North Carolina. We will be happy to help you complete a North Carolina form so that your wishes can be followed.

End of life support

Patients with incurable disease and their families need extra comfort and support. The Palliative Care Team of Durham Regional Hospital is dedicated to serving patients who are ready to move to comfort care measures only, providing emotional and spiritual care as requested by the patient and/or family, management of pain and other symptoms, communication with patients and family members, and referral of patients and/or family members to community agencies, such as hospice and home health care programs.

Palliative care can begin earlier than hospice care, and is offered in a hospital setting. Please contact the Director of Pastoral Services at 470-8313 for more information.