Have you discussed your health care preferences with your loved ones? Would the right person be able to make decisions for you if you were incapacitated? In Oregon, an advance directive for health care allows you to share your preferences for health care in advance in case you are later unable to express them for yourself. It also allows you to name a health care representative—a person who is charged with carrying out your wishes and making your health care decisions for you when you are unable to do so yourself.
The Oregon Advance Directive for Health Care form covers many scenarios including terminal conditions, advanced progressive illnesses, and permanent unconsciousness, and allows you to express your desire for life sustaining treatments in those scenarios. It also allows you to share what matters to you, spiritual beliefs, place of care preferences, and which loved ones you want to be informed. All healthcare providers can provide an advance directive form to you or you can retrieve a fillable PDF from the Oregon Health Authority. This form is written by the Oregon legislature—most recently updated in 2021 through Senate Bill 199—and it can be difficult to fill out.
An Advance Directive for Health Care is included as part of all of our comprehensive estate plans. If you’d like to ensure yours accurately reflects your wishes, please contact us.