Chapter 14

living will

An advance directive that specifies an individual's end-of-life wishes

surrogate decision-making laws

Laws, passed by most states, that permit a close relative or friend to make health-care decisions for patients who have no advance directives.

anatomical gift

A donation of all or part of a persons body

ethical will

A statement of personal history and philosophy meant to be passed to future generations

power of attorney

A written document, which is usually notarized, authorizing another to act as one's agent; can be special (permitting the agent to do specified acts only) or general (permitting the agent to transact all business for the principal).

advance directive

a document stating a person's wishes about health care when that person cannot make his or her own decisions

conservator

a guardian or preserver of another person's property appointed by a court because the other person cannot legally manage it.

Health-care proxy

a legal statement that appoints a proxy to make medical decisions for the client in the event the client is unable to do so

Principal

a party who appoints a second party to serve as an agent.

agent

a representative who acts on behalf of other persons or organizations

directive to physicians

another name for a living will

health care declaration

another name for a living will

medical directive

another name for a living will

attorney-in-fact

any person who acts formally for another person.

organ-tissue donor's card

document, signed by a donor in the presence of two witnesses, donating all or part of the donor's body; the donation takes effect upon or after death.

surrogate

one acting in place of another

durable power of attorney

person has been named as an agent to handle the individual's affairs if the patient becomes incapacitated

disinterred

unearthed; having dug up something buried