Equal Access To Justice

      In advance of a disabling illness that deprives you of your ability to make decisions about your own health care, you can prepare a written document which tells your physicians, relatives and others what you want. In Delaware, this document is referred to as an "Advance Health Care Directive". (It is no longer referred to as a "living will".)

      You decide what goes into an advance health care directive. You can prevent doctors from using certain medical procedures or treatments like cardiopulmonary resuscitation or blood transfusions. You can direct that certain medications not be used.

      An advance health care directive can inform health care professionals what, if any, life prolonging medical treatment you want if your are (a) unable to make your own decisions and (b) either permanently unconscious or terminally ill. You can direct that no maintenance medical treatment or extraordinary measures be used to prolong your life. You can even direct that your doctor no provide artificial nutrition and hydration (food and water).

      In an advance health care directive you can direct that some types of medical treatment can be used to prolong your life and direct that other types not be used. Alternatively, you can direct that every measure possible be taken to keep you alive. The choice is yours.

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