Every competent adult has the right to make decisions concerning his or her own health, including the right to choose or refuse medical treatment.
An advance health care directive is written or oral statement on how you want medical decisions made should you not be able to make them yourself such as a living will, appointment of a healthcare surrogate, or a DNR form.
Though there is no legal requirement to complete an advance directive in the state of Florida, if you have not made an advance directive, decisions about your health care may be made for you by a court-appointed guardian, or immediate family. The person making decisions for you may or may not be aware of your wishes. When you make an advance directive, and discuss it with the significant people in your life, it will better assure that your wishes will be carried out the way you want.