Completing an Advance Directive will give you a voice in making medical decisions if you become unable to understand or speak for yourself. This can give you and your family/caregivers peace of mind because it allows them to understand and follow your wishes about your medical care.
Advance Directives only become active if your medical provider certifies that you cannot understand your medical condition and choices for care, meaning you do not have the capacity to make your own medical decisions.
After completing the Advance Directives forms, it is a good idea to talk to the person you choose to be your agent and your medical team to explain your wishes so that they will know your choices.
Completing Advance Directives can also help you avoid having decisions made by probate court, and/or by a temporary surrogate you did not select.
A health provider or insurance company cannot require you to have an advance directive document to provide you with services.
The Advance Care Planning Guide (ACPG) provides you with the forms you need to ensure your loved ones, caregivers and your health care providers understand your wishes for your end of life care. It includes an Advance Directive Form and a Durable Power of Attorney form, both of which are legal documents and medical standards that can guide your care when completed properly and made available to your medical teams.
The Guide was updated in July 2022 to incorporate the amendments made to New Hampshire Revised Statutes Amended 137:J as a result of the 2021-2022 Legislative Session.
