Living Wills, Healthcare Power of Attorney & MOST Forms in NC

You don’t need a diagnosis to make a decision. Do you have an advance directive?

“Advance directive is an umbrella term used to describe how someone wants their healthcare to be carried out when they can’t make their own decisions,” explained Allison (Bubba) Simmons, MDiv, Director of Pastoral Care. “You may be confused, intubated, under anesthesia, recovering from an accident — anything that would keep you from making decisions for yourself.”

Only around one in three Americans have advance directives in place. This can cause unnecessary stress for your loved ones if you experience a medical emergency. Although difficult, it’s important to have these important conversations.

“Too often, I sit with families who say ‘We’ve never talked about this. I have no idea what they would want.’ I always say that you can’t be too young or too healthy to have these conversations because anything can happen. It’s a gift to your loved ones.”

Without advance directives in place, healthcare decision making power goes to your next of kin. This means your legal spouse, then your children, and so on.

“Let’s say you’ve been legally separated for decades but never legally divorced. That spouse can still make decisions for you if you haven’t implemented advance directives.”

Types of Healthcare Advance Directives

Medical Orders for Scope of Treatment (MOST) Form
This form, filled out by your primary care provider, is typically for those who are seriously ill or elderly. This form confirms a person’s choices about emergency treatments like hospital admissions, feeding tubes, breathing machines, infection treatments, and Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) orders.

Healthcare Power of Attorney
This form identifies your healthcare agent. This person can speak with your providers, access your medical records, and make healthcare decisions on your behalf. In North Carolina, you can identify a first, second, and third choice for your agent.

Living Will
A living will identifies your choices for end of life and other serious medical emergencies. This may include your choices about feeding tubes, ventilators, CPR, and organ or tissue donation.

The most current versions of your advance directives are what are followed by healthcare providers anywhere in the United States. It’s a good idea to keep copies of your forms with you and share them with your decision makers. Fortunately, the NC Secretary of State’s website has a place to keep digital downloads of your forms for ease of access.

Talk to your family, friends, and healthcare providers about your choices. You and your loved ones will be glad you did. Don’t know where to start? Call 704-873-5661 and ask to speak with the Director of Pastoral Care.

“It’s never too early to make a decision,” said Simmons.