Advance directives are legal documents that allow you to express your decisions about end-of-life care in advance. They help communicate your wishes to family members, friends, and healthcare professionals, reducing the possibility of confusion or uncertainty.

A living will specifies your preferences regarding medical treatments intended to sustain life. It gives you the right to accept or decline certain types of medical care.

Important considerations may include, but are not limited to:
• The use of life-sustaining equipment such as ventilators, pacemakers, or defibrillators
• Whether you wish to be resuscitated if your breathing or heartbeat stops
• Tube feeding and other artificial life-support measures
• Organ or tissue donation

A durable power of attorney for healthcare is another type of advance directive. This document designates a trusted person—your healthcare proxy—to make medical decisions on your behalf if you are unable to do so yourself.

While these documents are essential in guiding healthcare decisions, it is the policy of Broward Ambulatory Surgical Center that, during your care at our facility, all reasonable measures will be taken to revive and stabilize you in the event of a medical emergency. This includes resuscitation and, if necessary, transfer to a hospital, regardless of the contents of your advance directive, living will, or healthcare proxy instructions.

If you already have an advance directive, you may bring a copy to your visit. Upon request, we can include it in your medical record for reference in the unlikely event of hospital transfer.
If you do not have an advance directive and would like more information, please visit www.caringinfo.org.