In the living will (advance health care directive) you can record who represents you and can therefore make decisions if you are no longer able to communicate yourself. This is therefore the contact person with whom the medical staff meets when it is necessary to determine which actions should or should not be performed.

You are not required to appoint a representative, however it may be practical to do so.

What are the duties of a representative?

• Making decisions about which you have not made a statement in your medical will (chosen the 'I don't know' option)
• Making decisions about situations that are not described in your medical will because not all medical situations can be foreseen and science does not stand still
• Your representative will always make decisions based on the standards and values ​​laid down in your medical will. Since you are the one who has designated this person, their decisions will be taken as leading by the medical staff.
• You can also designate a replacement for your representative in the event that your first representative is unable to attend.
• In your will you can clearly state about which matters your representative may or may not make decisions. You can also indicate who is not allowed to make decisions for you at all.

Register the representative
There are special forms for appointing a representative and replacement. The representative then declares that she or he accepts this position and will honor the wishes of the person she or he represents. Your representative does not have to attend the appointment for the registration of your living will.

Recommendations

• Speak extensively with your representative about your standards, values ​​and wishes
• If you are appointing a replacement for the representative, please speak to her or him about your preferences as well
• If you have designated a representative and a second represetativet, inform both of each other's existence
• Let family members know who your representative and the second representavie are