ACP for Young Adults 

False ACP Beliefs

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1. ACP is only for old or sick people. FALSE - Every competent adult can benefit from having an advance directive (AD).

2. Advance directives (ADs) are only for people who do not want life-sustaining medical treatment. FALSE - ADs can list what treatment you do or do not want.

3. If I name a person to make decisions for me, I give up my right to make my own decision. FALSE - ADs give permission for your surrogate to make decisions for you only if you have been declared incompetent to make them for yourself.

4. ADs must be completed by a lawyer and notarized. FALSE - In Georgia, you only need two witnesses to sign.

5. ADs are legally binding so the health care team must follow them. FALSE - ADs are recommendations and can be refused if medically inappropriate. However, medical provides generally respect your wishes.

6. If I am living at home and my AD states that I do not want CPR, I will not be resuscitated by EMS responders. FALSE - This requires an out of hospital Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order.

7. Once I complete an AD, I cannot change it. FALSE - ADs can easily be changed by rescinding the old one and writing a new one.