Health Care Directives ensure that your health care wishes are carried out in the event you are unable to make your own health care decisions. The Directive provides a written set of instructions for health care providers regarding the type and level of medical intervention you would want if you became ill or were injured and unable to express your desires – this includes both what you do and don’t want.
Health Care Directives can also give direction regarding the degree of, or flat refusal of, life sustaining procedures should that situation arise, while allowing for measures to keep you reasonably pain-free and comfortable.