Advance Directives
Prevea wants you to know you have the right to make decisions about your health care. This includes the right to accept or refuse medical or surgical treatment and the right to direct future health care decisions if you become unable to do so yourself. You can do this by completing an Advance Directive.
An “Advance Directive” is a written statement naming a person of your choice to make health care decisions on your behalf. The Advance Directive will empower your selected representative to make health care decisions should you become physically or mentally unable to do so independently. If you have questions or would like to learn more about advance directives, please call your provider’s office.
Information to help in Advance Directive and Do Not Resuscitate discussions
- Facing Difficult Decisions brochure
- Discussion Guides for Advance Care Planning
- Advance Care Planning - Serving as Agent
- Advance Care Planning - Patient Perspective
The following forms are available through the WI Department of Health Services:
- Declaration to Physicians (Living Will)
- Power of Attorney for Health Care (POAHC)
- Use when do not resuscitate or "no code" decision has been made:
- Power of Attorney for Finance and Property
- Authorization for Final Disposition
- Emergency Care Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order form (Community DNR)
- Code status - video
Frequently asked questions
No health care facility or provider may be criminally or civilly liable or charged with unprofessional conduct for:
- Certifying incapacity if certification is made in good faith after a thorough examination of the person.
- Failing to comply with the DPAHC or the decision of a health care agent (failure of a physician to comply with the DPAHC or a decision of the health care agent constitutes unprofessional conduct only if the physician refuses or fails to make a good faith attempt to transfer the person to another physician who will comply).
- Complying with the terms of a valid DPAHC if they don’t know it was revoked.
- Acting contrary to or failing to act on a revocation of a DPAHC, unless the health care facility or health care provider knows of the revocation.
- Failing to obtain the health care agent’s decision (this immunity applies if the health care facility or provider has made a reasonable attempt to contact the health care agent to obtain a decision but has been unable to do so).
- Making a decision in good faith pursuant to the DPAHC.
Yes. It must be signed by the person in the presence of two witnesses at least 18 years old. At the time the document is signed, no witnesses may be:
- Related to the person by blood, marriage or adoption.
- The spouse/domestic partner of the person.
- The spouse/domestic partner of one financially responsible for the person’s health care.
- An heir entitled to or has a claim on your estate.
- A health care provider serving you.
- An employee of the health care provider.
- An employee of a health care facility in which you reside or are a patient, except for chaplains and social workers.
- Your health care agent or alternate.