The Advance Directive for Health Care expresses your wishes regarding your health care in the event you are afflicted with an incurable disease, terminable health condition, or permanent and irreversible coma. Depending upon which separate provisions of the ADHC you have signed, those persons or institutions providing health care are authorized to withhold certain nutrients, water or other forms of life support for you in the event your death is imminent or you are in an irreversible coma.
The ADHC allows you to not only specify your desires in the event of a terminal illness, but also in the event you are in a “persistent coma.” This part I of the document is called the “Living Will.” Part II allows you to name your “health care proxy,” or the person you want to make health decisions for you in the event you are no longer able to make such decisions for yourself.
