Alpha-1 Advocacy Alliance - Advance Directives, Living Wills, Power of Attorney

Won't you sign up for membership? Simply click HERE
Joining is free, easy and private.

to sign up and become a member of our growing community of committed individuals striving to be well informed and educated about Alpha 1.

Read our Privacy Policy and be assured we are here to help. Let us know what we can do for YOU!

Testing for AAT Deficiency
Simply click HERE Alpha One International Registry
provides AAT Deficiency Testing. This AAT Deficiency Testing is a
COMPLETE CONFIDENCIAL TESTING SERVICE
and WITHOUT COST TO YOU.
This testing will include measuring the CONCENTRATION of AAT in your blood, determining the TYPE of ATT in your blood and (where appropriate) determining your AAT genotype by testing the DNA in your blood; State of the art, full-spectrum Alpha-1 Testing .

Please read the detail at: AAT Deficiency Detection Center

Advance Directives, Living Wills,
Power of Attorney.
What's it all Mean?

The year 2005 will mark the year that Americans decided to really look at all the terms out there. Just what does a living will do or an advance directive or a DNR?

It can all be a bit daunting, but some careful reading and a good discussion with your loved ones and your doctor can help you make the right decision for you.

For good general information on all these topics, the following website is great.
http://familydoctor.org/003.xml

Living Wills:

Health-care directives –or living wills- are for adults of all ages to meet your wishes about end of life medical treatment. Among the reasons for a living will include

You may be too sick to express yourself when the time comes

Your family may disagree about what to do leaving the doctors likely to keep you on life support.

Your decision now takes this responsibility off everyone's shoulders.

Your living will could avoid litigation later on the 'should have-would have's '

Contact a lawyer in your state or your Commonwealth's Attorney on how it should be done in your state. Some require your signature and two witnesses as well as a notary witness/signature. You can download some forms off the internet at a minimal fee (we've seen them from $7-87.00) but you need to know what your state requires for a legal document.

Durable Power of Attorney.

A durable power of attorney is someone delegated by you in writing, to make decisions about your health care if you can not. They act as an advocate for you. The following website provides a form to use. This is from the University of Michigan.
http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/aha/umlegal02.htm
Check with your state to see if using this form and following the instructions is sufficient where you live. Notice that the witnesses have restrictions.

Do Not Resusitate

A do not resusitate (DNR) order is often used by patients when they have a chronic condition where there is no hope of normal life. If the patient's heart fails or they stop breathing, CPR will not be performed and the person will be allowed to die naturally. This is often used in patients with highly spread cancer and kidney failure or those suffering from a debilitating disease. This should be kept with your medical records. A sample form is available at the following site or you can ask your physician or health facility for one.
http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/aha/umlegal03.htm

Lking for More Information... Need Help Now! Click Here
Return Home | Return to Support | Return to Informational Resources
Alpha-1 Advocacy Alliance, PO Box 202, 103 Rapidan Church Lane, Wolftown, VA 22748
Telephone: 540-948-6777 or 1-866-FOR-A1AA (1-866-367-2122) Fax # 540-948-6763
Copyright © 2006 Alpha-1 Advocacy Alliance, All Rights Reserved

Home | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy