 An advance directive is a written statement that you and your doctor
prepare, indicating how you want your medical decisions to be made
in the future if you are no longer able to make them for yourself.
The new form adds a greater level of specificity when it comes to
decisions about cardiopulmonary resuscitation, known as CPR, and
life-support measures including being intubated, placed on a
ventilator and fed through a tube.The new advance directive form
also meets requirements to nationally be considered a form for
physician orders for life-sustaining treatment, known as a POLST
form.
"Completing an IDPH Uniform DNR Advance Directive lets doctors,
nurses and EMTs know what health care services you would like to
receive if you are not able to tell them -- for example, if you
suffer a stroke or heart attack and your heart stops beating or you
stop breathing," said Dr. LaMar Hasbrouck, state health department
director "The new form goes into greater detail about what level of
care you would like and under what conditions you would receive it.
Make sure to talk with your family and health care provider before
completing an advance directive."
Hospitals, nursing homes and emergency medical services personnel
in your residence or en route to a health-care facility are required
to honor an advance directive. Older versions of the directive that
have already been properly executed are still, and will continue to
be, valid.
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Things to should consider when
completing an advance directive include:
-
Your medical
condition and related medical considerations.
-
CPR in the event
of an unforeseen accident (such as a car crash or choking on
food).
-
Quality-of-life
issues before and after CPR.
-
Use of CPR during
surgery or other medical procedure.
-
Use of a mechanical ventilator.
For more information about the IDPH Uniform Do Not Resuscitate
Advance Directive, visit
http://www.idph.state.il.us/public/books/advin.htm.
Uniform Do Not Resuscitate Advance Directive:
http://www.idph.state.il.us/
public/books/dnrform.pdf
[Text from
Illinois
Department of Public Health file received from
the
Illinois Office of
Communication and Information]
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