In Hawaii, an Advance Healthcare Directive consists of two documents: The Living Will and The Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care. Through your living will you can prescribe not only what types of health care procedures you would or would not choose to receive, but also under what circumstances you would or wouldn’t choose to receive them. With the Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care, you choose an Agent to make heath care decisions for you when you are incapacitated.
The Agent should be available locally, should share your core values as to health care, and should be able to calmly asset what he or she knows to be your wishes even when other strong-willed people might not concur. Most people choose their spouse, a close relative or a close friend to be their agent. The main requirements are that the Agent must be an adult and cannot be your physician or anyone professionally involved in providing your health care.