Advance Directives

Advance directives are legal documents designed to ensure that your decisions concerning your medical care, including the right to refuse treatment, are understood and followed by your healthcare providers if you become physically or mentally unable to make these decisions on your own.

Both state and federal law require healthcare institutions and physicians to respect the wishes of patients over age 18 concerning medical care, including the right to accept or refuse treatment and to discontinue treatment.

The law also allows you to designate a healthcare power of attorney to make decisions about your medical care and treatment if you are physically or mentally unable to do so.

This is an important matter, and you should talk to your spouse, family, close friends, physician and attorney before deciding whether or not you want an advance directive.

You can download a copy of the Louisiana Advance Directives booklet by clicking on the link below.

Louisiana Advance Directives - The purpose of this booklet is to explain the process and the different options available to you.
Download PDF (52 KB)

 

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