Advanced Healthcare Directives

Without an advance directive, critical decisions may be left to medical professionals or family members who may not fully understand your values or desires. This can lead to choices that don’t align with your preferences, adding unnecessary stress for everyone involved.

Nebraska Living Wills and Advance Directives

In Nebraska, both a living will and an advance healthcare directive are tools for managing healthcare decisions. A living will specifically focuses on your preferences for end-of-life care, such as the use of life-sustaining treatments, but it does not allow you to appoint a healthcare agent. In contrast, an advance healthcare directive includes the features of a living will and lets you designate a healthcare proxy who can make broader medical decisions on your behalf.

It’s important to use one legally valid advance directive form and share it with your healthcare providers to avoid confusion. Relying on multiple forms provided by different doctors, hospitals, or insurance companies can lead to inconsistencies that may complicate your care.

If you only wish to establish a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order, you can typically complete a simple form through your healthcare provider. However, DNR orders should be approached with careful consideration, as they apply to specific situations when life-saving measures are no longer appropriate.

Who Needs an Advance Healthcare Directive in Nebraska?

Many people mistakenly believe they don’t need an advance healthcare directive unless they are seriously ill. The truth is, that anyone can face unexpected medical emergencies where they are unable to make decisions for themselves. If you don’t have an advance directive in place, your treatment preferences may be unknown, and loved ones may not have the legal authority to act on your behalf.

Without an advance directive, courts may need to appoint a guardian or conservator to make medical decisions, which can be a lengthy and emotionally taxing process. Being proactive and creating an advance directive now, can ensure your wishes are respected and that your loved ones are spared from making difficult decisions during a stressful time.

What Can You Include in an Advance Healthcare Directive?

Your advance healthcare directive is personalized to reflect your specific values and wishes. Here are some common choices people include:

• Life-Sustaining Equipment: Specify whether you want treatments like ventilators or dialysis to keep you alive.
• Artificial Nutrition and Hydration: Indicate whether you want feeding tubes or IV fluids if you cannot eat or drink.
• Medications or Treatments: Decide whether you want treatments like psychotropic medications or blood transfusions.
• Organ Donation: State whether you want your organs to be donated after your death.

You can include as much detail as you like or leave certain decisions to your appointed healthcare proxy. The goal is to create a document that reflects your wishes while providing clear guidance to those responsible for your care.