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Understanding the vital importance of making future healthcare decisions is encapsulated in the creation and implementation of documents like the Maine Health Care Advance Directive Form. This comprehensive document allows individuals to articulate their healthcare preferences for a time when they might be unable to communicate their wishes due to illness or incapacity. Through a detailed six-part structure, the form empowers individuals by enabling the appointment of a healthcare agent, specification of wishes regarding treatments, identification of a primary healthcare provider, organ donation preferences, funeral and burial instructions, and, crucially, legally documenting these choices. Moreover, the form accommodates the expression of individuals' desires not to be resuscitated in specific circumstances, through a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) addendum, reflecting a profound consideration for personal autonomy and the complexities of end-of-life care. It prompts individuals to engage in thoughtful conversations with lawyers, family, and medical practitioners to ensure that their decisions are well-informed and reflective of their values and best interests. By allowing modifications to ensure the document remains aligned with changing perspectives, except for the signature and witness confirmation sections, the form is a dynamic tool designed to reflect personal healthcare journeys faithfully. Emphasizing transparency, it recommends distributing copies of this directive to relevant parties, ensuring one's healthcare preferences are known and respected.

Maine Advance Sample

Maine Health Care

Advance Directive Form

You may use this form now to tell your physician and others what medical care you want to receive if you become too sick in the future to tell them what you want. You may choose to fill out the whole form or any part of the form and then sign and date the form in Part 6. These are the parts:

Part 1

Fill this out if you want to choose someone to make all your health care decisions for you,

either right away or if you become too sick to tell others what you want. This person is

 

called your agent.

Part 2

Fill this out if: (1) you did not name an agent in Part 1 and now want to choose whether

you want certain treatments or, (2) you did name an agent in Part 1 and want to tell your

 

agent your wishes about certain treatments, knowing that your agent must follow your

 

directions.

Part 3

Fill this out if you want to give the name of your primary physician, physician assistant or

nurse practitioner.

Part 4

Fill this out if you want to make decisions about donating your organs, body or tissues

after your death.

 

Part 5

Fill this out if you want: (1) to choose someone to make all funeral and burial decisions

after your death, or (2) to tell your family any wishes you have about funeral and burial

 

decisions.

Part 6

You must sign and date your Advance Directive form on this page. Have two witnesses

sign the form at the same time you sign it. Tell others about your decisions and give

 

copies to your physician, other health care providers, family and hospital.

Part 7

If you do not wish to be revived by ambulance crews should your heart or breathing stop,

then you and your physician (or nurse practitioner or physician assistant) need to sign this

 

Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) form.

Page 1 of 14 Revised February 2008

Note

You may change any part of this form except for Part 6 and Part 7. You may cross out any words, sentences, or paragraphs you do not want. You can also add your own words. If you make any changes to the form, it is best if you put your initials and the date next to each change so that everyone knows it was your decision to make the change. The form lets you choose different ways to handle your care by checking boxes or filling in blanks. You may initial each box and each blank you fill in to show that it was your decision to check the box or fill in the blank.

Before filling out this form, we suggest that you talk with your lawyer, family members, physicians, and others close to you about your wishes. If you make changes or complete a new form, be sure to let everyone know.

My Name (please print)______________________________________________________

My Address _______________________________________________________________

My Birth date______________________________________________________________

This is a list of all the people who have copies of my signed health care advance directive:

1. ________________________________________________________________________

2.________________________________________________________________________

3.________________________________________________________________________

4. ________________________________________________________________________

5. ________________________________________________________________________

6. ________________________________________________________________________

7. ________________________________________________________________________

8. ________________________________________________________________________

9. ________________________________________________________________________

10. ________________________________________________________________________

Page 2 of 14

Revised February 2008

Part 1 – Power of Attorney for Health Care

Instructions:

This part lets you choose another person to make health care decisions for you, either right away or when you are too sick to choose your own care. The person you choose is called your agent. You may also name a second and third choice to be your agent, if your first choice is not willing, reasonably available or able to make decisions for you. If you choose an agent on this form, but do not fill out any other parts of the form, your agent will be able to:

•Make all health care decisions for you, including decisions regarding tests, surgery and medication;

•Decide whether or not to have food or fluids given to you through tubes or fed into your veins through an IV;

•Decide whether or not to use treatments or machines to keep you alive or to restart your heart or breathing;

•Choose who will give you health care and where you will get it, such as hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living settings, home health, or hospice care; and

•Make any health decision he or she believes would be consistent with your values or in your best interest, even if it is not listed in the form.

Who can be your agent:

You can name any adult you trust to be your agent, except your agent may not be the owner, operator or employee of a nursing home or residential long-term care facility where you are receiving care, unless that person is your relative.

How your agent must make decisions:

If your agent does not know what you want, the agent must make decisions consistent with your personal values, if known, or based on your best interests. In Part 2, you can decide what you want in advance. If you make choices in Part 2, your agent must make decisions based on those choices.

Who can see your health care information:

Once your agent has the right to make health care decisions for you, your agent can look at your medical records and consent to giving your medical information to others. The state and federal privacy laws let your agent see all of your health information so that he or she can make the right decision for you.

The first part of your advance directive begins on the next page.

Page 3 of 14 Revised February 2008

YOUR ADVANCE DIRECTIVE BEGINS HERE

Choosing an agent: Fill in your name and the name of the person you choose to be your agent to make health care decisions for you here:

My name______________________________________________________________________________

My agent’s name________________________________________________________________________

Title or relationship to me_________________________________________________________________

My agent’s address______________________________________________________________________

My agent’s home phone (___)___________________ My agent’s work phone (___)__________________

If the agent I have named above is not willing, reasonably available or able to make decisions for me, I choose the following person to be my agent:

If the person I have named as Choice # 2 is not willing, reasonably available or able to make decisions for me, I choose the following person to be my agent:

Choice # 2 to be my agent

Choice # 3 to be my agent

 

Name____________________________________

Name_________________________________

Title or Relationship to me___________________

Title or Relationship to me________________

Address__________________________________

Address_______________________________

_________________________________________

______________________________________

Home Phone (___)__________________________

Home Phone (___)_______________________

Work Phone (___)__________________________

Work Phone (___)_______________________

You may change your mind later about who you want to be your agent. If you want to stop the agent you have named from making decisions for you, you must tell your primary physician or fill in these blanks:

I do not want ________________________ to be my agent. _______________________________________

My signature

Date you filled out and signed this section _________________________

Any time you cancel, replace or change this form you should give copies of the changed or new form to everyone who has a copy of your original form.

Page 4 of 14

Revised February 2008

Your agent’s power:

When your agent can start making decisions for you: (Check only one box: A or B)

A. My agent can make decisions only when my primary physician or a judge decides that I am too sick to make my own health care decisions.

OR

B. My agent can start making health care decisions for me right away, but this does not mean I have given up the right to make my own decisions if I am still able and willing to make my own decisions. When my agent makes a health care decision for me, I will be told, if possible, about that decision before it is carried out unless I say I do not want to know. If I disagree with that decision and am still able to decide, I can make a different decision. As long as I am able, I can end my agent’s right to make decisions for me, change my agent or make my own decisions. If I want to end my agent’s right to make decisions for me, I must tell my primary physician or put my decision in writing and sign it with the date of my signature.

Nominating a guardian:

A guardian is a person chosen by a court to make decisions about your personal care. These decisions can include not only health care, but other decisions such as where you will live and how your personal needs will be met. If you wish, you may ask that a court assign your agent as your guardian, if appointment of a guardian should become necessary. Check the box below to nominate your agent to be your guardian, if a judge needs to appoint a guardian for you.

I nominate my agent to be my guardian if a judge needs to appoint a guardian for me.

If you want to nominate someone other than your agent to be your guardian, you may fill in the section below.

If a judge needs to appoint a guardian for me, I nominate the person named below as my guardian:

Name__________________________________________ Title or Relationship to me________________

Address______________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Home Phone (___)_______________________ Work Phone (___)______________________________

Page 5 of 14 Revised February 2008

Part 2 – Special Instructions

Instructions if you did not name an agent in Part 1:

If you did not name an agent in Part 1, you should fill out this Part to state what you want for care if you become too sick to make your choices known.

OR

Instructions if you did name an agent in Part 1:

If you named an agent in Part 1, you do not have to fill out this part of the form. If you want your agent to make all of your health care decisions, DO NOT fill out this part of the form. Your agent will make decisions in your best interests, including decisions to refuse treatment. However, you may fill out this part if you want to give special directions to your agent about your wishes, such as when you are near death, in a permanent coma or no longer able to make your own decisions. You may also cross out or add words. It is best if you put your initials and date next to any changes you make so everyone knows the changes were your decision. If you complete this part, your physician and others will follow these instructions and your agent cannot make a different decision. You may also write your wishes on another piece of paper, sign it, date it, and keep it with this form.

Life-Sustaining Treatment Choices:

You may check one of the two boxes below to show your choice about getting treatments that would keep you alive:

Choice not to be kept alive

Choice to be kept alive

I do not want treatment to keep me alive if my

I want to be kept alive as long as possible

physician decides that either of the following is true;

within the limits of generally accepted health

(i) I have an illness that will not get better, cannot

care standards, even if my condition is

terminal or I am in a persistent vegetative

be cured, and will result in my death quite soon

state.

(sometimes referred to as a terminal condition),

 

OR

 

(ii) I am no longer aware (unconscious) and it is very

 

likely that I will never be conscious again (sometimes

 

referred to as a persistent vegetative state).

 

 

 

Page 6 of 14

Revised February 2008

Life-Sustaining Treatment Choices:

You may also check one of the two boxes below to show your choice about treatment that would keep you alive if, in the future, you have late stage Alzheimer’s disease or other severe dementia. These choices will not limit the authority under state law for your agent, surrogate, guardian or physician to make treatment choices if you are unable to make your own decisions and are not in late stage Alzheimer’s disease or other severe dementia.

Choice not to be kept alive

If my physician and a second physician decide that I am in the late stage of Alzheimer’s disease* or other severe dementia, I do not want treatment to keep me alive.

Choice to be kept alive

I want treatment to keep me alive as long as possible within the limits of generally accepted health care standards, even if my physician and a second physician decide that I am in the late stage of Alzheimer’s disease or other severe dementia.

*Only a physician can determine that someone is in the late stage of Alzheimer’s disease. People in the late stages of Alzheimer’s disease generally have a number of the following characteristics: loss of the ability to respond to their environment; loss of the ability to speak; loss of the ability to control movement; loss of the capacity for recognizable speech, although words or phrases may occasionally be uttered; needing help with eating and toileting; general incontinence of urine; loss of the ability to walk without assistance, then the ability to sit without support, then the ability to smile, and the ability to hold their head up; reflexes become abnormal; muscles grow rigid; and swallowing is impaired.

Tube Feeding: You may check one of the two boxes below to show your choice about tube feeding or having water and nutrition fed into your body through an IV or tube (artificial nutrition and hydration):

Artificial nutrition and hydration should not be given, or should be stopped, based on the other life-sustaining treatment choices I made about keeping me alive on Pages 6 and 7.

Artificial nutrition and hydration should be given regardless of my condition.

Page 7 of 14 Revised February 2008

Relief from Pain: You may check the box or fill in the blanks below to show your choice about relief of pain or discomfort.

I want treatment for relief of pain or discomfort to be given at all times, even if it shortens the time until my death or makes me drowsy, unconscious or unable to do other things.

These are my wishes about relief of pain or discomfort:

Other Directions:

You may give more directions or add any other treatment choices in the space below:

Page 8 of 14 Revised February 2008

Part 3 — Primary Physician

This section is optional. Fill out this part only if you wish to name your primary physician today.

Name of my primary physician:__________________________________________________________

Address: _____________________________________________ Phone: ________________________

I want any agent I named in Part 1 to talk with this physician about my health care. If the physician I have named above is not willing, reasonably available or able to carry out my wishes, I want the agent I named in Part 1 to talk with the physician listed below:

Name of physician: _____________________________________________________________

Address:_____________________________________________ Phone:___________________

If you want your agent or those making decisions for you to speak with a nurse practitioner or physician assistant before making a decision, you may complete the following section:

Name of nurse practitioner or physician assistant: _____________________________________

Address: _____________________________________________ Phone:___________________

Page 9 of 14 Revised February 2008

Part 4 – Donation of Body,

Organs or Tissues at Death

This section is optional. Fill out this part only if you want to give directions about donating your body, organs or tissues after your death.

I do NOT wish to donate any organs, tissues or parts.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I have checked below my choices about donating my body, organs or tissues after death. I have spoken with my family so that they will not object to my wishes after I die.

I give my body. OR

I give any needed organs, tissues or parts. OR

I give only the following organs, tissues, or parts:

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

My gift is for the following purposes (you may check any number of boxes):

My gift is for transplant or therapy for another person, to be chosen based on generally accepted health care standards.

My gift is for research and education. My preference, if any, is to give my body, organs, or tissues to the following hospital, medical school, or physician:

Name ________________________________________________________

Address _______________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

I understand that I may need to contact the hospital, medical school, or physician before I die in order for them to accept my body, organs or tissues after my death.

Page 10 of 14 Revised February 2008

Click for PDF Form

Form Data

Fact Number Fact Detail
1 Maine Health Care Advance Directive Form allows individuals to specify their medical care preferences.
2 Parts of the form include appointing a health care agent, treatment preferences, organ donation, funeral arrangements, and a DNR order.
3 The form requires a signature and date in Part 6, plus the signatures of two witnesses to be valid.
4 It encourages discussion with family, physicians, and others close to the individual before completing the form.
5 Changes to the document are permissible, except for Part 6 (signature and date) and Part 7 (DNR order), by initialing next to each change.
6 People chosen as health care agents cannot be employees or owners of the nursing facility where the individual is receiving care, unless they are relatives.
7 Agents get their decision-making authority based on the patient's inability to make decisions or immediately, depending on the section checked by the individual.
8 Governing Law: The form complies with Maine state law, which includes specific regulations about health care directives.

Instructions on Filling in Maine Advance

Filling out the Maine Advance Directive form is a straightforward process, designed to help individuals communicate their health care preferences in advance. Through this form, a person can specify the type of medical care they wish to receive if they become unable to make decisions for themselves in the future. It covers choosing a health care agent, specifying wishes regarding treatments, and decisions about organ donation, among others. Not only does this document ensure that the individual’s health care preferences are understood and respected, but it also relieves family and loved ones from the burden of making difficult decisions during stressful times. The form must be filled out carefully, signed, and witnessed correctly to be valid. Here is a step-by-step guide to completing the Maine Advance Directive form.

  1. Begin by printing your name, address, and birthdate at the top of the form.
  2. Part 1: Power of Attorney for Health Care
    • Write your name and the name of your chosen agent, their relationship to you, their address, and their home and work phone numbers.
    • If you have alternate choices for your agent, fill in their names, titles or relationships to you, addresses, and phone numbers in the spaces provided.
    • Decide when your agent can start making decisions for you by checking either box A (only when you are too sick to make your own health care decisions) or box B (your agent can start making decisions right away).
    • If you wish, nominate your agent as your guardian in case a court needs to appoint one for you, or provide the name of an alternative person you nominate for guardianship.
  3. Part 2: Specify your wishes about certain treatments in the event you did not appoint an agent in Part 1, or if you did and want to provide them with instructions.
  4. Part 3: If you wish to name your primary physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant, enter their name and contact information.
  5. Part 4: Make decisions about organ and tissue donation after your death and fill in the relevant section.
  6. Part 5: Choose someone to make all funeral and burial decisions after your death, or specify your wishes regarding these decisions.
  7. Part 6: Sign and date your Advance Directive form. Have two witnesses sign the form at the same time you do. These witnesses cannot be the agent you have designated.
  8. Part 7: If applicable, fill out the Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order section with your physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant.
  9. Keep a list of everyone who has a copy of your signed health care advance directive. If you make any changes to the form, remember to initial and date each change.
  10. Finally, discuss your decisions with your family, physician, and anyone else who might be involved in your care. Provide copies of the completed form to your health care agent, family members, and health care providers.

Completing the Maine Advance Directive form is an important step in ensuring your health care preferences are known and respected. Taking the time to carefully choose your health care agent and communicate your wishes can provide peace of mind for you and your loved ones.

FAQ

What is the Maine Health Care Advance Directive Form?

The Maine Health Care Advance Directive Form is a document that allows individuals to outline their preferences for medical care if they become unable to communicate their desires in the future. It includes sections for appointing a health care agent, specifying wishes for certain types of treatment, designating a primary physician, and making decisions about organ donation, funeral, and burial arrangements. Once completed, it must be signed and witnessed as detailed in Part 6 of the form.

Who can I appoint as my health care agent?

Anyone who is an adult and whom you trust can be named as your agent, excluding individuals who are owners, operators, or employees of a nursing home or residential long-term care facility where you are receiving care, unless they are related to you. It is important to choose someone who understands your values and is willing and able to make decisions according to your wishes.

How does my agent know what decisions to make?

If you have specific preferences for your health care, you can detail these in Part 2 of the form. Your agent is required to make decisions based on these specified wishes. If you haven't indicated your choices or if a situation arises that you hadn't anticipated, your agent should make decisions that align with your known values, or in your best interest if your values are not known.

What happens if I change my mind after completing the form?

You can change any part of the form at any time, except for the signature and witness sections (Part 6 and Part 7). It’s recommended to initial and date any changes to clearly indicate your decision. After making changes, you should inform and distribute the revised document to everyone who had a copy of the original, including family members and health care providers.

Can I specify my wishes about organ donation in this form?

Yes, Part 4 of the Maine Health Care Advance Directive Form allows you to make decisions regarding the donation of your organs, body, or tissues after your death. You can specify your preferences for donation and ensure that your wishes will be honored.

What is the role of witnesses in the signing of this form?

The form must be signed by two witnesses who are present at the time you sign it. They confirm your identity and that you are signing the document voluntarily. The witnesses play a crucial role in ensuring the legal validity of the document.

How do I make my health care decisions known?

After completing and signing the form, it’s critical to communicate your decisions to key individuals. This includes giving copies to your appointed agent, family members, primary physician, other health care providers, and any health care facility where you are receiving care. Open and honest discussions about your wishes with these individuals can also provide clarity and guidance.

What if I no longer want my agent to make decisions for me?

If you decide that you no longer want your appointed agent to make decisions on your behalf, you can revoke their authority by notifying your primary physician or by putting your decision in writing and signing it. Ensure to communicate this change to anyone who had a copy of the original directive.

Is a lawyer required to complete the Maine Health Care Advance Directive Form?

While it is recommended to discuss your health care wishes with a lawyer, it is not required to have a lawyer to complete the form. The form is designed to be straightforward so that individuals can complete it on their own. However, consulting with a lawyer can provide additional guidance and ensure that your advance directive aligns with your legal and personal wishes.

Common mistakes

When filling out the Maine Health Care Advance Directive Form, it's common for individuals to make mistakes that could impact the effectiveness of the document or their future health care decisions. Here are eight common mistakes:

  1. Not choosing an agent in Part 1, leaving no one with clear authority to make health care decisions if the person becomes unable to make their own decisions.
  2. Completing Part 2 without specifying clear treatment preferences, which can lead to confusion or decisions that might not align with the person's wishes.
  3. Failing to provide the contact information of a primary physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant in Part 3, which is essential for coordinated care.
  4. Omitting preferences regarding organ, body, or tissue donation in Part 4, potentially going against the person's wishes after death.
  5. Neglecting to choose someone to make funeral and burial decisions in Part 5, or not communicating any specific wishes for these arrangements.
  6. Forgetting to sign and date the form in Part 6, or not having the two required witnesses sign, which makes the directive invalid.
  7. Not informing or giving copies of the signed form to family, physicians, and other health care providers, leading to a lack of awareness about the person’s health care preferences.
  8. Leaving Part 7, the Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order, unsigned, if the person does not wish to be revived by ambulance crews, thus not providing clear instructions for emergency medical personnel.

Avoiding these mistakes can help ensure that the Maine Health Care Advance Directive Form truly reflects a person's health care preferences and is executed according to legal requirements.

Documents used along the form

When preparing an Advance Directive in Maine, it’s important to understand related documents that may also be necessary or beneficial to ensure comprehensive healthcare planning. These documents work in conjunction with the Maine Advance Health Care Directive to provide a thorough framework for both healthcare and end-of-life wishes.

  • Living Will: This document allows an individual to outline specific medical treatments and life-sustaining measures they do or do not want if they become terminally ill or permanently unconscious and cannot make decisions for themselves. It typically complements the advance directive by providing more detailed instructions.
  • Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Order: A doctor's order that tells healthcare providers not to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) if a person's breathing stops or if their heart stops beating. While mentioned briefly in the Maine form, a separate official DNR order may also be necessary.
  • Medical Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (MOLST) or Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST): A medical order that outlines a seriously ill or frail patient’s preferences regarding treatments that are necessary for sustaining life. These forms are designed to be followed by healthcare providers across settings.
  • Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care: This document designates another person, called a healthcare agent or proxy, to make any necessary healthcare decisions on behalf of the individual if they cannot make decisions for themselves. While the Maine Advance Directive includes a section for this, a separate, more comprehensive durable power of attorney for healthcare might be needed in some cases.
  • Durable Financial Power of Attorney: This legal document gives another person authority to handle financial matters for an individual, separate from healthcare decisions. It’s vital for comprehensive planning, ensuring someone can manage financial affairs if the individual is incapacitated.
  • Will or Last Testament: Though not directly related to healthcare, having a will is essential for clarifying an individual's wishes regarding the distribution of assets and the care of any dependents after death. It complements healthcare directives by covering non-healthcare wishes.
  • HIPAA Release Form: This document allows healthcare providers to share an individual's medical information with designated persons. It’s crucial for family members or healthcare proxies to have access to necessary information to make informed decisions.

Each of these documents has a unique role in ensuring that an individual's healthcare and personal wishes are respected and followed, particularly in situations where they cannot speak for themselves. When used together with the Maine Advance Health Care Directive, they provide a comprehensive approach to health care planning and decision-making. It’s advisable to consult with a legal professional when preparing these documents to ensure they accurately reflect one's wishes and are executed in accordance with Maine law.

Similar forms

The Maine Health Care Advance Directive form shares similarities with several other legal documents, each of which is designed to ensure a person's wishes are respected, especially when they are unable to communicate their desires due to illness or incapacity. One such document is the Power of Attorney for Health Care, which specifically allows a designated individual, known as an agent, to make medical decisions on behalf of the person who created the document. The Advance Directive and the Power of Attorney for Health Care both serve to appoint a trusted person to oversee medical care decisions, underlining the importance of proactive planning for future health care needs.

Another related document is a Living Will, which outlines an individual's preferences concerning end-of-life care, such as life support and the administration of life-prolonging treatments. The Maine Health Care Advance Directive form also addresses these topics in its sections, especially in Part 2, where an individual can specify their treatment preferences, illustrating the directive’s role in guiding medical interventions when the person cannot make their own decisions.

Similarly, the Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Order, which is directly referenced in the Maine form, allows individuals to express their wish not to receive cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in the event their breathing stops or their heart stops beating. Both documents prioritize the individual's values and preferences at critical medical junctures, underscoring their importance in medical and emergency scenarios.

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Release Form is yet another document associated with the Maine Health Care Advance Directive form. By naming an agent who has access to one's medical records, the Advance Directive effectively functions as a HIPAA release, allowing designated individuals to obtain the necessary information to make informed health care decisions on the individual's behalf.

The Organ and Tissue Donation Registration is closely mirrored in Part 4 of the Maine form, which addresses the decision to donate organs, body, or tissues after death. Both documents ensure a person’s wishes regarding organ donation are known and can be acted upon, emphasizing the individual's autonomy over their body, even in death.

A Funeral Directive is akin to Part 5 of the Maine document, where one can detail their preferences for funeral and burial arrangements, or designate someone to make those decisions. This part of the Advance Directive ensures a person's final wishes are respected and eases the decision-making burden on loved ones.

Additionally, the Appointment of Agent to Control Disposition of Remains is reflected in the Advance Directive. This legal appointment allows an individual to name someone responsible for decisions concerning their body after death, including but not limited to burial or cremation choices, further exemplifying the comprehensive nature of Advance Directives in handling post-mortem decisions.

Lastly, the Medical Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (MOLST) or Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) parallels the Advance Directive in that both documents are designed to guide emergency medical personnel and other healthcare providers in delivering treatments that align with the patient's values and preferences, particularly concerning life-sustaining treatment.

Each of these documents shares a common purpose with the Maine Health Care Advance Directive form: to honor and enforce the medical and post-mortem preferences of individuals during times when they might not be able to voice their wishes. They collectively underscore the significance of advance planning in healthcare, the respect for patient autonomy, and the importance of clear, documented communication regarding one's preferences.

Dos and Don'ts

When preparing your Maine Health Care Advance Directive Form, a document that outlines your health care preferences in case you become unable to make those decisions yourself, attention to detail and clear communication are crucial. Here is a helpful list of dos and don'ts that can guide you through the process:

Do:
  • Discuss your wishes with family members, your selected agent, and your primary health care providers before filling out the form. This ensures everyone understands and respects your health care preferences.
  • Choose a trusted agent who understands your values and health care wishes. Make sure they are willing and able to act on your behalf if you become unable to make your own decisions.
  • Be specific about your health care preferences in Part 2 of the form. Clear instructions help your agent and health care providers make decisions in line with your desires.
  • Sign and date Part 6 in front of two witnesses to validate the form. Make sure the witnesses are not your agent or potential recipients of your estate.
  • Inform your agent and family about where the original signed form is stored. Give copies to your primary physician, health care providers, and any other relevant parties.
  • Review and update your directive as needed. Changes in your health condition, personal values, or relationships may necessitate updates to your form.
Don't:
  • Choose an agent without discussing it with them first. It’s important they agree and fully understand what may be required of them.
  • Forget to specify at what point your agent should begin making decisions on your behalf by checking the appropriate box in the agent’s power section.
  • Leave parts incomplete unless you are certain you do not want to provide direction in those areas. Incomplete sections can lead to confusion or misinterpretation of your wishes.
  • Ignore the option to designate secondary agents. If your primary agent is unable to fulfill their role, having alternate agents listed can ensure your wishes are still followed.
  • Forgo discussing your advance directive with your primary care physician. Your physician can provide advice and ensure your instructions are medically sound and clearly articulated.
    • Fail to notify relevant parties if you revoke or change the directive. Keep the list of individuals who have a copy of your directive up to date to prevent use of an outdated document.

Taking these actions can help ensure that your health care decisions are respected and followed according to your wishes, providing peace of mind to you and your loved ones.

Misconceptions

There are several common misconceptions about the Maine Health Care Advance Directive Form that can lead to confusion. Understanding these misconceptions is crucial for ensuring that one's health care wishes are properly documented and respected.

  • Only the elderly or terminally ill need an Advance Directive.

    This is a common misconception. In reality, anyone over the age of 18 can benefit from having an Advance Directive. Life is unpredictable, and an Advance Directive ensures that your health care preferences are known and considered, regardless of your age or current health status.

  • An Advance Directive means "Do Not Resuscitate."

    Many people mistakenly believe that filling out an Advance Directive is only about refusing life-saving treatment. However, an Advance Directive covers a wide range of health care decisions, not just directives about life-sustaining treatment. It can also outline your wishes for receiving certain treatments, not receiving them, or designating someone to make decisions on your behalf.

  • If you complete an Advance Directive, you lose control over your health care decisions.

    This is not true. An Advance Directive actually gives you more control over your health care by letting you outline your preferences for treatments and care in advance. Even after you've filled out the form, as long as you are capable, you can make your own health care decisions or change your Advance Directive at any time.

  • Once the Advance Directive form is signed, it cannot be changed.

    Another misconception is that an Advance Directive is permanent and unchangeable once it is signed. In fact, you can change your Advance Directive any time you wish. To ensure that your current wishes are followed, it's a good idea to review and update your directive regularly, especially after any major life changes.

Understanding these misconceptions is important for anyone considering completing a Maine Health Care Advance Directive Form. It's a valuable tool for communicating your health care wishes and ensuring they are respected, regardless of what may happen in the future.

Key takeaways

  • The Maine Health Care Advance Directive Form allows individuals to indicate their medical care preferences for when they are unable to make decisions due to illness. This proactive approach ensures that their wishes are understood and considered.

  • Individuals have the option to appoint an agent via the form to make health care decisions on their behalf. This agent gains the authority to make decisions about treatments, including the use of life-sustaining measures, and can access medical records to make informed decisions.

  • The form is flexible, allowing individuals to fill out as much or as little as they prefer. This includes designating an agent, specifying desires about certain medical treatments, and making decisions regarding organ donation, among others.

  • Legal restrictions apply to who can be chosen as an agent. The chosen agent cannot be an owner, operator, or employee of a nursing facility where the individual is receiving care, unless they are related to the individual.

  • It's highly recommended to discuss the completion of the advance directive with family, physicians, and possibly a lawyer to ensure that the individual's wishes are clearly communicated and all implications are understood.

  • After completing the form, it is important to sign and date it in Part 6, in the presence of two witnesses. Additionally, sharing the document with relevant parties, such as family members, physicians, and other healthcare providers, is crucial for the implementation of the directive's instructions.

  • Changes to the document can be made by the individual at any time, except for Part 6 and Part 7, which deal with signing the directive and Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) orders, respectively. Whenever changes are made, initialing and dating next to each change ensure clarity and traceability of decisions.

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