"Advance Directives" usually describe documents created in
advance of someone being incapable of making decisions for
him or her self, although still legally alive. "DNR" (Do Not
Resuscitate) could also be called an Advanced Directive, but
it is an order by a physician (not the patient) not to
resuscitate if a person goes into cardiac or pulmonary
arrest. An Anatomical Donation or a Certificate of Religious
Belief against autopsy are also forms of Advance Directives,
although these are instructions directing post-mortem
actions. The latter is especially valuable in states that will
only stop an autopsy on religious grounds. (The Society for
Venturism is a pro-cryonics religion which can be used against
autopsy: http://www.venturist.org
Most commonly, "Advance Directive" refers to a Living Will
and Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care (or called Health
Care Surrogate Designation in Florida, for example). A "Living
Will" is a Will giving directions in advance of a condition
of being unable to communicate or give directions while still
alive. A "durable" power of attorney is a power of attorney
that remains in effect (is "durable") after a person has
become incapacitated.
I have written much about these documents in these URLs
(internet links)
http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/dsp.cgi?msg=26011
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Cryonics_Institute/message/984
I am reluctant
to write another boiler-plate document when the laws and forms
are different in every state. I think the best advice is to
follow the guidelines in the aforementioned URLs to customize
the standard documents in your legal jurisdiction to avoid
autopsy, to indicate your desire to be cryopreserved and to
give directions which can create conditions favorable to
good cryopreservation.
You should discuss your Advance Directives with your
physician, lawyer and relatives to be clear that they
can see your desires in writing and understand them. Copies
should be in your file at the Cryonics Institute. You should
ensure that a Medical Surrogate (Durable Power of Attorney)
does not benefit financially from a failure to cryopreserve.
You should appoint two or three Medical Surrogates (trusted
friends or relatives) in prioritized order in case your first
choice is not available at the time of need. In some states
these documents expire after seven years, so they may require
reaffirmation.
I am not pleased when Members appoint me or a CI as Medical
Surrogate without knowledge or permission. There may be legal
complications and conflict of interest problems that would
thwart your desire. I suggest friends or relatives, and you
can include "hold harmless" provisions in your Directive.
Using the Advance Directives of your specific state will
allow you to customize documents with which local medical
personnel are already familiar. The National Hospice and
Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO, 1700 Diagonal Road, Suite 625
Alexandria, Virginia 22314, USA) gives you on-line access
to the Advance Directives of every state:
http://www.nhpco.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=4415
National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization also has a free call center which offers help: 800-658-8898