Illnoisans Reminded Of Benefits Of Advance Care Planning

Illinois Attorney General, Nov 16, 2006

Chicago – Given the national attention recently drawn to the issue of medical decision making for incapacitated patients, Attorney General Lisa Madigan reminded Illinoisans of their advance care planning options and said the best time to discuss views about end-of-life care, and to learn about end-of-life care options, is before a life-threatening illness or crisis occurs.

Madigan said that by planning ahead, Illinoisans can reduce stress and conflict for their loved ones and increase the likelihood they will receive care that respects their wishes. Advance care planning is a process that involves considering personal values about the end of life, discussing those values with loved ones and health professionals, and completing the legal documents to record a person’s wishes for the future. If that person later becomes incapable of making health care decisions, advance directives are the legal documents that will communicate the patient’s wishes.

In Illinois, the Power of Attorney for Health Care lets a person choose another individual, called the “agent,” to make health care decisions if that person can no longer make those decisions for himself, Madigan explained. Unless limits are included, the agent will have broad power to make any decision a patient could make for himself, including decisions about tube feedings.

A backup agent also can be designated to act if the first agent cannot, or will not, serve. Madigan reminded Illinoisans that when a Power of Attorney for Health Care is signed, it must be witnessed by at least one person. While the document does not have to be filed anywhere, the agent and personal physician should be given a copy.

Madigan explained that a Living Will is another option for Illinoisans. A Living Will is a written statement that expresses a person’s wish to stop or not begin medical treatment that delays his or her death under a terminal condition. The signing of a Living Will must be witnessed by two persons.