In Oregon we have an Advanced Directive which is both a Health Care Power of Attorney and a Living Will.

Very cool. I wish we would adopt that in CO.

It is just a statutory form that combines the two. You can read it in our statutes. Here it is on line if you want to see it: http://www.oregon.gov/DCBS/SHIBA/docs/advance_directive_form.pdf?ga=t Maybe you could forward it to your estate planning section of the bar and see if they want to adopt something similar. Here is another attorney's blog discussing it: http://blog.orolaw.com/2011/07/oregon-advance-directive-health-care.html The one thing I take issue with is the vague way the form coordinates the power of the doctor with the power of your appointed representative. I take the view that my family knows me better than a strange doctor in the ER so I add customized language in both parts B and C to make it clear that my family member is in control of the final decision after they have consulted with the doctor and understand the doctor's medical view of the situation. I think this if very important and something that is not addressed when hospitals hand these forms out in admission packets.