Advance directives
Note: Texas law now allows an option for a person's signature to be acknowledged by a notary instead of witness signatures and for digital or electronic signatures on the Directive to Physicians, Out-of-Hospital Do Not Resuscitate Order, and the Medical Power of Attorney, if certain requirements are met. Please have your attorney review the law in Health and Safety Code Chapter 166 for the details.
Advance directives are legal documents that allow you to convey your decisions about end-of-life care ahead of time. They provide a way for you to communicate your wishes to family, friends and health care professionals, and to avoid confusion later on.
- Consent to Medical Treatment (PDF) — This form is for a person who has not issued a directive and needs medical care. Does not include withholding or withdrawing life sustaining treatment. PDF in Spanish
- Declaration for Mental Health Treatment (PDF) —This document allows you to make decisions in advance about mental health treatment and specifically three types of mental health treatment: psychoactive medication, convulsive therapy and emergency mental health treatment. The instructions that you include in this declaration will be followed only if a court believes that you are incapacitated to make treatment decisions. Otherwise, you will be considered able to give or withhold consent for the treatments. PDF in Spanish
- Directive to Physicians and Family or Surrogates Form (PDF) — This form is designed to help you communicate your wishes about medical treatment at some time in the future when you are unable to make your wishes known because of illness or injury. PDF in Spanish
- Medical Power of Attorney Form (PDF) — Except to the extent you state otherwise, this document gives the person you name as your agent the authority to make any and all health care decisions for you in accordance with your wishes, including your religious and moral beliefs, when you are no longer capable of making them yourself. PDF in Spanish
- Out-of-Hospital Do Not Resuscitate Information & Form (PDF) — This form instructs emergency medical personnel and other health care professionals to forgo resuscitation attempts and to permit the patient to have a natural death with peace and dignity. This order does NOT affect the provision of other emergency care including comfort care.
- Procedure When Person Has Not Executed or Issued a Directive and Is Incompetent or Incapable of Communication (PDF) — This form is used if an adult qualified patient has not executed or issued a directive and is incompetent, or otherwise mentally or physically incapable of communication. In that case, the attending physician and the resident's legal guardian or an agent under a medical power of attorney may make a treatment decision that may include a decision to withhold or withdraw life-sustaining treatment from the resident. PDF in Spanish
- Statutory Durable Power of Attorney (PDF) — This form is for designating an agent who is empowered to take certain actions regarding your property. It does not authorize anyone to make medical and other healthcare decisions for you. PDF in Spanish
Publications
Thinking Ahead: My Way, My Choice, My Life at the End (PDF) provides a way to advocate for what you want in life support treatment and other end-of-life choices. Related advance care planning forms (PDF).
Updated: March 26, 2013