Final answer:
The resident's spoken and or/written instructions about future medical care and treatment refer to a living will or advance directive, which might include specific medical interventions, a DNR Order, and appointing a health care proxy. Such documents are created to ensure an individual's treatment preferences are honored when they cannot communicate due to incapacity. This has become an important aspect of healthcare planning, influenced by personal values and the desire for autonomy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The resident's spoken and or/written instructions about future medical care and treatment are often formalized in a document known as a living will or advance directive. A living will is a legal document that details specific medical interventions a person wishes to receive, or not receive, when they are no longer capable of communicating their decisions. It means that if someone were to become incapacitated, their preferences for treatment would already be on record. For example, someone with a terminal illness may opt to refuse life-extending treatments. Moreover, one may include a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Order in their living will, informing medical personnel that no resuscitative efforts should be taken if their breathing or heart stops. Additionally, designating a health care proxy is a legal way to appoint someone to make medical decisions on your behalf if you are unable to do so.
Discussions about end-of-life care reflect personal values often influenced by various factors such as religion, culture, and upbringing. As people are now making more proactive decisions about their quality of life and care preferences, living wills, DNR orders, and medical powers of attorney are increasingly being settled in advance. This forward planning allows individuals to have a say in their care, even when they may be unable to communicate their wishes.
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