Introduction to Your Wyoming Advance Health Care Directive
This packet contains a legal document, the Wyoming Advance Health Care Directive, that protects your right to refuse medical treatment you do not want, or to request treatment you do want, in the event you lose the ability to make decisions yourself. You must complete Part 1, Part 2, or both, depending on your advance-planning needs in order to have a valid advance health care directive. Part 3 and Part 4 are optional. You must complete Part 5.
Part 1, the Wyoming Power of Attorney for Health Care, lets you name someone, called your “agent,” to make decisions about your health care—including decisions about life support—if you can no longer speak for yourself, or immediately if you specify this in your document. The Power of Attorney for Health Care is especially useful because it appoints someone to speak for you any time you lack the capacity to make your own health care decisions, not only at the end of life.
Unless you make it effective immediately, your Power of Attorney for Health Care becomes effective when your doctor certifies in writing that you lack the ability to understand the significant benefits, risks, and alternatives to proposed health care and to make and communicate your health care decisions.
Part 2, the Wyoming Instructions for Health Care, functions as your state’s living will. It lets you state your wishes about health care in the event that you lack the capacity to make your own health care decisions.
Your Instructions for Health Care become effective when your doctor determines that you lack the capacity to make health care decisions.
Part 3, Donation of Organs at Death, is an optional section that authorizes the donation of your organs at death.
Part 4, Primary Physician, is an optional section that allows you to designate your primary physician.
Part 5, Execution, contains the signature and witnessing provisions to make your advance health care directive valid.
This form does not expressly address mental illness. If you would like to make advance care plans regarding mental illness, you should talk to your physician and an attorney about an advance directive tailored to your needs.
Note: These documents will be legally binding only if the person completing them is a competent adult (at least 18 years old) or an emancipated minor.