Advance Directives
LIVING WILLS
In the event that you have an incurable or irreversible condition that will cause your death within a short time, you may make their wishes known regarding life-sustaining procedures. Your wishes are recorded in a written statement as outlined in Alaska State 18.12.010. If and when you become terminally ill and are unable to make decisions regarding medical treatment, the living will provides guidelines to the attending physician to withhold or withdraw procedures that could prolong the dying process and are not needed for comfort or to alleviate pain.
Anyone at least eighteen years old and of sound mind may complete a living will. You must sign it in the presence of two witnesses at least eighteen years old and not related by blood or marriage, or in the presence of a Notary Public. It is not necessary to see a lawyer before completing a living will. No one can require or force you to sign a living will. The law prohibits life insurance policies (current or future) to be affected by a living will.
It is important to indicate whether or not you want nutrition or hydration (food & water) provided by gastric tube or intravenously if necessary. Other directives which may be included are:
Yes or No to cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
Yes or No to respirators or life-sustaining machines.
Yes or No to transport out of the village or home for medical care.
Yes or No to medication to relieve pain.
After the living will is completed, keep original and several copies with personal records. Give additional copies to all physicians, the hospital medical records department, and family members. Keeping a list of who received a copy may be helpful if changes are made in the future. Carrying a copy when traveling will insure that your wishes are carried out if an emergency arises.
It is important to take time to freely discuss the living will with your family members so they can be prepared for decisions to be made in the future.
You may revoke (stop or change) a living will at any time regardless of mental or physical condition. You may tell the physician, other health care providers, or family members not to follow the living will. You may also revoke a living will by signing and dating a written statement, in any form, of your intent to do so. All copies of the revoked living will must be removed from records of the physicians and hospitals and from family members in this case.
The following page links do not have a navigation bar so you can print it by pressing the print button in your browser menu. Use the back button on your browser to exit these pages.
Click: Example of a Living Will
Click: Blank Copy of Living Will
DURABLE POWER OF ATTORNEY FOR HEALTH CARE
A durable power of attorney for health care allows you to choose an agent who will make decisions about medical care in the event you are unable to do so. This agent will have the authority to consent to giving, withholding, or stopping any health care treatment, service, or procedure. The agent may be a family member or a friend with whom this has already been discussed. The agent should not be a physician, or employee of the physician, hospital, health clinic, nursing home, or assisted living home. In the event that an agent is unwilling or unable to act as such, it is important to designate other persons to serve as alternate agents.
This document can also be used to indicate the kinds of medical treatment that you want or do not want. It is important that the agents or agents chosen, as well as family members, understand yourchoices.
Sign the document in the presence of a Notary Public. You will need a picture identification card for the notary to verify you are signing the document. Keep the original document a safe place with other important papers and give copies to physicians, hospitals, and the agents chosen. You may, if mentally competent, revoke or reinstate the agent’s authority. The attending physician or other health care provider makes the revocation or reinstatement a part of your medical record.
The following page links do not have a navigation bar so you can print it by pressing the print button in your browser menu. Use the back button on your browser to exit these pages.