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Military Advance Medical Directive

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MILITARY ADVANCE MEDICAL DIRECTIVE

STATE OF

COUNTY OF

This is a MILITARY ADVANCE MEDICAL DIRECTIVE prepared pursuant to Title10, United States Code, Section 1044(c). It was prepared by an attorney who was authorized to provide legal assistance for an individual who was eligible to receive legal assistance. Federal law exempts this advance medical directive from any requirement of form, substance, formality, or recording that is provided for advance medical directives under the laws of a State. Federal law specifies that this advance medical directive shall be given the same legal effect as an advance medical directive prepared and executed in accordance with the laws of the State concerned.

It is suggested for use by any person authorized to receive legal assistance from the military service in accordance with federal or state law, who by these presents represents and warrants that he is so eligible. Any person to whom this form is presented may conclusively rely on the authority purportedly granted hereunder.

BE IT KNOWN on this day of , 20, before me, an attorney authorized to render legal assistance to persons eligible for legal assistance under the provisions of 10 U.S.C. § 1044 or the regulations of the Department of Defense, personally came and appeared , who declared that he is a member of the , a branch of the military designated in R.S. 40:1299.60, or is otherwise included thereunder, and did execute and sign the following declaration:

I, being of sound mind, willfully and voluntarily make known my desire that my dying shall not be artificially prolonged under the circumstances set forth below and do hereby declare:

If at any time I should have an incurable injury, disease or illness, or be in a continual profound comatose state with no reasonable chance of recovery, certified to be a terminal and irreversible condition by two physicians who have personally examined me, one of whom shall be my attending physician, and the physicians have determined that my death will occur whether or not life-sustaining procedures are utilized and where the application of life-sustaining procedures would serve only to prolong artificially the dying process, I direct that such procedures, including hydration and sustenance, be withheld or withdrawn and that I be permitted to die naturally with only the administration of medication or the performance of any medical procedure deemed necessary to provide me with comfort care.

[Optional:] In the absence of my ability to give further directions regarding the use of such life-sustaining procedures, I authorize , caretaker, to make treatment decisions on my behalf and I have discussed my desires concerning terminal care with this person and I trust his/her judgment on my behalf.]

Should my caretaker be an absent person or cease or otherwise fail to act or if a caretaker has not been named in this declaration, it is my intention that this declaration be honored by my family and physician(s) as the final expression of my legal right to refuse medical or surgical treatment and accept the consequences from such refusal.

INSPECTION AND DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION RELATING TO MY PHYSICAL OR MENTAL HEALTH.

A. General Grant of Power and Authority. Subject to any limitations in this Directive, my agent has the power and authority to do all of the following:

(1) Request, review and receive any information, verbal or written, regarding my physical or mental health including, but not limited to, medical and hospital records;

(2) Execute on my behalf any releases or other documents that may be required in order to obtain this information;

(3) Consent to the disclosure of this information; and

(4) Consent to the donation of any of my organs for medical purposes.

B. HIPAA Release Authority. My agent shall be treated as I would be with respect to my rights regarding the use and disclosure of my individually identifiable health information or other medical records. This release authority applies to any information governed by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), 42 U.S.C. 1320d and 45 CFR 160 through 164. I authorize any physician, health care professional, dentist, health plan, hospital, clinic, laboratory, pharmacy, or other covered health care provider, any insurance company, and the Medical Information Bureau, Inc. or other health care clearinghouse that has provided treatment or services to me, or that has paid for or is seeking payment from me for such services, to give, disclose and release to my agent, without restriction, all of my individually identifiable health information and medical records regarding any past, present or future medical or mental health condition, including all information relating to the diagnosis of HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted diseases, mental illness, and drug or alcohol abuse. The authority given my agent shall supersede any other agreement that I may have made with my health care providers to restrict access to or disclosure of my individually identifiable health information. The authority given my agent has no expiration date and shall expire only in the event that I revoke the authority in writing and deliver it to my health care provider.

I understand the full import of this declaration and I am emotionally and mentally competent to make this advance medical directive.

Signed:

City, County, and State of Residence

_____________________________

(SIGNATURE OF ATTORNEY)

Attorney Signature

Enter text✕

What the Military Advance Medical Directive Is and Why It Matters

A Military Advance Medical Directive is a written legal document used by service members, veterans, and military dependents to specify medical treatment preferences and to appoint a health care agent if they cannot make decisions. It combines standard advance directive elements (treatment preferences, life-sustaining care, organ donation) with military-specific considerations such as deployment status, access to military treatment facilities, and coordination with VA benefits. Proper execution ensures medical teams and military medical systems have a clear record of intent and an authorized representative to act on the service member's behalf.

Why a Military Advance Medical Directive Is Useful

The directive clarifies your treatment wishes and names an agent to act for you, reducing ambiguity during medical crises. Electronic completion and distribution can speed access for military and VA clinicians while remaining legally effective under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and UETA where adopted.

Why a Military Advance Medical Directive Is Useful

Who Typically Completes a Military Advance Medical Directive

Each group has different operational needs; include contact details and copies so military and civilian clinicians can find the directive quickly.

  • Active-duty service members and reservists who want instructions while deployed or stationed overseas.
  • Veterans and military dependents coordinating care with VA and civilian providers.
  • Designated agents, family members, and military legal representatives responsible for medical decisions.

Step-by-Step: Completing a Military Advance Medical Directive

Follow these core steps to prepare, sign, and distribute a directive that will be recognized by military and civilian clinicians.

  • 01
    Gather Documents: Collect ID, medical records, and service identifiers.
  • 02
    Choose Agents: Select primary and alternate decision-makers.
  • 03
    Specify Care: Document explicit treatment preferences and limitations.
  • 04
    Execute Properly: Sign with required witnesses/notary per state rules.

How the Directive Is Processed and Shared

Understand the common route from creation to clinical use so the directive is available when needed.

  • Create Document: Complete form with signatures and required authentication.
  • Authenticate: Add witness or notarization if state requires it.
  • Distribute: Give copies to medical providers, agent, and military records office.
  • Access: Clinicians retrieve directive from electronic health record or supplied copy.

Configuring an Online Workflow for This Directive

Key settings determine how an online directive is filled, authenticated, and routed to military or VA systems.

Field Configuration
Document Type Advance Directive / Living Will
Signers Service member, witness, notary (as required)
Authentication Email link, SMS code, or stronger ID verification
Storage Encrypted cloud storage with download and audit log

Technical Requirements for Digital Completion and eSubmission

Choose a platform that preserves an audit trail, stores a tamper-evident copy, and can integrate with military or VA records systems where permitted.

  • Authentication: Email/SMS or multi-factor verification
  • File Formats: PDF, DOCX acceptable for EHR ingestion
  • Integrations: Works with Salesforce, NetSuite, Google Workspace

Essential Elements to Include in the Directive

A complete Military Advance Medical Directive includes identity, agent designation, specific treatment instructions, and execution details to meet state formalities.

Agent Designation

Name the health care agent with full contact details and alternates, and specify the scope and limits of decision-making authority.

Treatment Preferences

State clear accept/refuse instructions for life-sustaining treatments, resuscitation, and intubation, and indicate conditions under which they apply.

End-of-Life Orders

Include DNR or DNI preferences if desired and specify circumstances where these instructions are valid.

Military-Specific Notes

Address deployment, evacuation, or transfer between military and civilian facilities and how orders should be coordinated with military medical authorities.

Witness / Notary

Record witnessing and notary details as required by your state to ensure acceptance by hospitals and legal authorities.

Organ Donation

Include organ donation intentions and any required registry information if you wish to donate.

Required Identification and Data Fields

Full Name: Legal name as on ID
Service Identifier: EDIPI or service number
Date of Birth: MM/DD/YYYY format
Agent Details: Name, phone, relationship
Witness/Notary: Witness names and notary block
Medical Preferences: Clear treatment instructions

Common Risks If the Directive Is Incorrect or Incomplete

Invalidation: May be invalid under state law
Refusal of Care: Hospital may not honor unclear instructions
Agent Challenge: Family disputes can impede decisions
Outdated Versions: Old forms may conflict with current intent
Authentication Gaps: Missing witness/notary can void document
Access Problems: Providers lacking a copy may delay action

Frequent Preparation Errors to Avoid

  • Using inconsistent names or initials that differ from military ID, which complicates identity verification and may delay acceptance.
  • Failing to name alternate agents, leaving no clear backup when the primary agent is unavailable during deployment or evacuation.
  • Writing vague treatment instructions that force clinicians to interpret intent rather than follow explicit, actionable directions.
  • Not distributing signed copies to VA, military medical records, primary care providers, and the appointed agent.

Practical Tips for Accurate and Efficient Completion

Adopt these practices to ensure the directive is effective, accessible, and honored across military and civilian care settings.

Use Exact Identifiers
Include EDIPI/service number and full legal name to ensure records match across military and VA systems; avoid nicknames or initials.
Confirm State Formalities
Verify whether your state requires witness(s) or notarization for advance directives and complete those steps to avoid invalidation.
Share Widely
Provide signed copies to your agent, family, primary care provider, military health records office, and the nearest VA facility if applicable.
Review Regularly
Revisit the directive after major life events, change of duty station, deployment, or changes in medical preference to keep it current.

Real-World Examples of Use

The following short scenarios illustrate how a Military Advance Medical Directive functions in service and family contexts.

Deployment Preparation

A deployed service member completes a directive before overseas duty and names a spouse as agent.

  • The spouse can authorize medical decisions when the member is incapacitated.
  • The directive’s copies given to the base clinic and VA hospital enabled prompt coordination and honored the service member’s stated preferences during an in-theater medical evacuation.

Overseas Dependents

A military dependent living abroad names a local agent and alternate in the directive.

  • Agent contact details include international phone and embassy liaison.
  • When an unexpected hospitalization occurred, the agent presented the signed directive and expedited communication with both the local hospital and U.S. military medical command to ensure appropriate care.

Comparing eSignature Options for Military Advance Medical Directives

Select a platform that matches your authentication, HIPAA, and integration needs; the table below compares basic plan-level differences among common providers.

signNow DocuSign Adobe Sign PandaDoc HelloSign
Starting Price $8/user/mo $15/user/mo $14/user/mo $19/user/mo $15/user/mo
Free Trial 7-day free trial Varies by vendor Varies by vendor Varies by vendor Varies by vendor
Bulk Send Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Audit Trail Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
HIPAA Compliant Yes Yes Yes No No
Envelope Cap No cap 100 envelopes/user/year Varies by plan Varies by plan Varies by plan

Frequently Asked Questions About Military Advance Medical Directives

Answers to common legal, procedural, and technical questions to help ensure your directive is valid and accessible when needed.


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