Advance Care Planning (ACP) is the process of thinking ahead about your healthcare preferences and documenting them to ensure your wishes are respected if you become unable to make decisions for yourself.
This guide walks you through how to prepare for future medical needs in Florida by creating advance directives, powers of attorney, and other essential documents that reflect your values and preferences.
Step-by-Step Guide (Florida)
1. Understand What Advance Care Planning Means
- Advance Care Planning allows you to express what types of medical treatment you do or do not want — including life support, resuscitation, or feeding tubes — in case you cannot speak for yourself.
- It also allows you to choose a trusted person to make medical decisions on your behalf (a health care surrogate).
- In Florida, these choices are typically made through Advance Directives, which include:
- Living Will
- Designation of Health Care Surrogate (Medical Power of Attorney)
- Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Order (optional and separate)
💡 These forms can be completed without an attorney, but they must meet state legal requirements.
2. Reflect on Your Personal Values and Care Preferences
- Consider what “quality of life” means to you — for example, independence, comfort, or time with family.
- Ask yourself:
- What medical treatments align with my beliefs and values?
- Under what circumstances would I prefer comfort care over life-prolonging measures?
- Who do I trust to speak for me if I’m unable to?
- Having these conversations early ensures your wishes are clearly understood by loved ones and healthcare providers.
3. Choose Your Health Care Surrogate (Medical Power of Attorney)
- Select someone you trust to make healthcare decisions consistent with your wishes.
- In Florida, this person is called a Health Care Surrogate. You may also name an alternate surrogate.
- Discuss your decisions with your surrogate to ensure they understand your preferences and responsibilities.
📄 Form: “Designation of Health Care Surrogate” (Florida Statute §765.202)
🖇️ Available from hospitals, doctor’s offices, or the Florida Health Finder: www.floridahealthfinder.gov
4. Complete a Living Will
- A Living Will outlines what medical treatments or life-sustaining procedures you do or do not want if you are terminally ill, in a persistent vegetative state, or unable to communicate.
- Clearly state your wishes regarding:
- Artificial ventilation or feeding
- CPR and resuscitation
- Dialysis or blood transfusions
- Pain management and comfort care
- Your living will must be:
- Signed voluntarily by you (the declarant)
- Witnessed by two adults (one cannot be your spouse or relative)
📄 Form: “Florida Living Will Declaration” (Florida Statute §765.303)
5. Notarize and Safely Store Your Documents
- While notarization is not legally required in Florida for advance directives, it is highly recommended for authenticity.
- You can use mobile notary services (like those offered by Aethyl MCS) to make the process more convenient.
- Keep copies in accessible locations:
- Your primary care provider’s office
- Hospital or clinic medical records
- With your surrogate and family members
- In a secure home file or electronic medical record portal
6. Communicate Your Wishes
- Discuss your directives with your healthcare provider, surrogate, and family.
- Carry a wallet card indicating that you have an advance directive and where it can be found.
- If you have a DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) form, make sure it is printed on yellow paper and signed by a physician — as required in Florida.
7. Review and Update Regularly
- Review your documents every few years, or when you experience major life events such as marriage, divorce, new diagnoses, or changes in your care preferences.
- Make sure your surrogate’s contact information remains current.
- Destroy outdated copies and redistribute updated versions to the same individuals and facilities.
8. Know Your Rights Under Florida Law
- Advance Directives are protected under Florida Statutes Chapter 765 (Health Care Advance Directives).
- Healthcare providers are legally obligated to honor your valid directives.
- You have the right to revoke or change your directive at any time by notifying your surrogate and healthcare provider in writing.
📚 Reference: Florida Statutes, Chapter 765
💛 Advance Care Planning is not just about end-of-life choices — it’s about peace of mind, self-advocacy, and ensuring your healthcare reflects who you are and what you value most.