Advance Directives

If there is ever a time when you are unable to make decisions about your own healthcare, but decisions need to be made, the care team will look for guidance from what you have said or written about your healthcare choices in the past and from your family or friends who may act as surrogate decision makers.

One of the best ways to make sure that your values and preferences are known to the care team and your loved ones is by completing a document called the Georgia Advance Directive for Healthcare.

Designate a Healthcare Agent

Through this document you can legally designate someone to be your Healthcare Agent, allowing that person to step in and make important medical decisions on your behalf during a time when you are unable to communicate them yourself.  You can also list backup agents in case the first person is unavailable.  Your Healthcare Agent is responsible for making decisions according to your known preferences and values, or if those are not known then they are to make decisions that they believe are in your best interest.

Document your Treatment Preferences 

Another key part of the Advance Directive includes opportunities to document some of your treatment preferences if you are ever in specific medical conditions.  It allows you to clarify some of the key medical interventions you may want, or not want, depending on the circumstances.  This provides guidance to your medical team as well as your Healthcare Agent so that they can work together in determining how best to care for you.

You do not need to complete all of the sections in order for the Advance Directive to be legally valid; for example, you may prefer to only designate a Healthcare Agent and not complete the section about treatment preferences. 

This is completely fine, and as long as the signatures at the end of the form are completed appropriately, your document could be valid.

• Once you have completed the portions of the document that you want, make sure the signature and witnesses page is completed according to the directions.
• Make copies of your completed Advance Directive and give it to anyone who may need it in an emergency, such as the person you named as your Healthcare Agent, your backup agents, and other close family members or friends.
• Provide a copy to your medical care providers and double check later that a copy is available to them in your medical records.
• Talk to your loved ones and your care providers about your Advance Directive and consider explaining some of the preferences that you wrote in the document. This can help them better understand the meaning behind your selections and help ensure future decisions are more aligned with your values.
• You may wish to keep a digital copy online for easy access by you, your agent, or your care team. Some people keep a copy in their email account, cloud storage, or digital photo album.