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Copies of
advance directive
(Idaho combined living will and durable power of
attorney for health care) that meets the requirements of
Idaho statutes is available for your use in PDF format.
Completing this document is recommended to ensure that
you receive the medical care you want when you can no
longer speak for yourself. This document is legally
binding only if the person completing it is a competent
adult (at least 18 years of age) or is an emancipated
minor.
The Living Will lets you state your
wishes about medical care in the event that you are
terminally ill or in a persistent vegetative state and
can no longer make your own medical decisions. Your
Idaho Living Will becomes effective when two doctors
certify that you are terminally ill and that your death
will occur with or without the use of life-sustaining
procedures or that you are in a persistent vegetative
state.
The Durable Power of Attorney for Health
Care lets you name someone to make decisions about your
medical care - including decisions about life support -
if you can no longer speak for yourself. This Directive
is especially useful because it appoints someone to
speak for you any time that you are unable to make your
own medical decisions, not only at the end-of-life.
Equally important as completing these
documents are the conversations you have with your
durable power of attorney for health care and family
members. It is very important that you share your
values, describe what gives you joy and clearly state
your wishes for end-of-life care. File your advance
directives where they are easily accessed and provide a
copy to the person who has your Durable Power of
Attorney for Health Care.
Coalition Advisors
A Better Way Coalition includes
elder law attorneys familiar with Idaho advance
directive statutes/law. In addition, a number of
attorneys including the Idaho Attorney Generals Office
act in an advisory capacity to the Coalition. These
attorneys are a resource about Idaho legislation
regarding living wills and durable powers of attorney
for health care.
Elder Law Attorneys
Robert Aldridge -
rlaldridge@hotmail.com
Peter Sisson -
sissonlaw@cableone.net
Dennis Voorhees -
voorhees@justice.com
Idaho Attorney Generals Office
Bill von Tagen, Deputy Attorney General -
bill.vontagen@ag.idaho.gov
Note:
1. Living Wills and Durable Powers of
Attorney for Health Care completed in Idaho prior to
July 1, 2007 are valid and do not need to be updated to
reflect changes in the Natural Death Act.
2. You are not required to have an
attorney prepare your living will and/or durable power
of attorney for health care. |
