Halachic Medical Directive for Quebec

A medical directive is an advance healthcare directive, also known as living will or health care proxy. It is a legal document in which a person specifies what actions should be taken for their health if they are no longer able to make decisions for themselves because of illness or incapacity.

A living will, which can be very specific or very general,  is a written document that specifies what types of medical treatment are desired.

More specific living wills may include information regarding an individual’s desire for such services such as analgesia (pain relief), antibiotics, hydration, feeding and the use of ventilators or cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

A health care proxy is a legal document in which an individual designates another person to make health care decisions if he or she is rendered incapable of making their wishes known.

The health care proxy has the same rights to request or refuse treatment that the individual would have if capable of making and communicating decisions.

Such a document is recommended for any patient who may be unable to make his or her wishes known during a long medical confinement.