A Practical Guide to Healthcare Powers of Attorney in Bean Station
A healthcare power of attorney is a legal document that lets you name a trusted person to make medical decisions for you if you cannot do so yourself. In Bean Station and throughout Tennessee, this document helps ensure your healthcare preferences are followed and that a person you trust can communicate with medical providers on your behalf. Creating a healthcare power of attorney involves understanding state requirements, selecting the right agent, and documenting your values and treatment preferences so that your wishes are respected during serious illness or unexpected incapacity. This guide explains how the document works and what to consider when preparing it.
When planning for possible medical decision-making needs, a healthcare power of attorney provides clarity and legal standing for the individual you appoint. It complements other planning documents and can reduce conflict among family members during stressful times. For Bean Station residents, careful preparation helps match personal values with practical directions to healthcare providers. The process includes choosing an agent, outlining decision-making authority, and understanding how and when the document becomes effective. We outline common choices and considerations so you can make a confident plan that protects your health preferences and streamlines decision-making if you are unable to speak for yourself.
Why a Healthcare Power of Attorney Matters for You and Your Family
A healthcare power of attorney matters because it names someone to act for you in medical situations when you cannot make decisions. This designation reduces uncertainty and facilitates timely communication with doctors and hospitals. For families in Bean Station, having a clear agent minimizes disagreements and supports smoother coordination of care. A properly executed document can also reflect your values and preferences, guiding decisions about life-sustaining treatments, pain management, and comfort care. In addition to protecting individual wishes, the document may save time and stress for loved ones during emotionally difficult moments by providing a trusted, authorized decision maker.
About Jay Johnson Law Firm and Our Approach to Healthcare Planning
Jay Johnson Law Firm serves families in Bean Station and surrounding Tennessee communities with practical legal guidance on healthcare powers of attorney and related planning. Our attorneys help clients identify decision-makers, draft tailored documents, and explain how the paperwork interacts with medical settings and other estate planning tools. The firm focuses on clear communication, ensuring clients understand their choices and the likely outcomes of different provisions. We work to create plans that reflect individual priorities while respecting Tennessee law, assisting with updates over time as circumstances and relationships change to keep directives current and effective.
Understanding What a Healthcare Power of Attorney Does
A healthcare power of attorney grants a designated person the authority to make medical decisions for you if you become unable to do so. This authority can be broad or limited depending on the language you choose, and it can include decisions about treatment options, admission or discharge from facilities, and access to medical information. In Tennessee, the document should be executed according to state rules to ensure enforceability, and it often works alongside an advance directive or living will. Clear, specific instructions help the agent carry out your wishes and guide providers on how to apply them in clinical situations.
Beyond naming an agent, a healthcare power of attorney benefits you by reducing ambiguity during emergencies and lowering the chance of disputes among family members. It permits your agent to communicate with healthcare professionals, review records, and consent to or refuse treatment consistent with your stated preferences. Selecting the right agent involves trust, willingness to act under pressure, and an understanding of your values. Regular review and updates of the document are important, especially after major life events such as changes in relationships, health status, or residence, to ensure that your designated agent remains the best choice.
Defining a Healthcare Power of Attorney and How It Works
A healthcare power of attorney is a written authorization that empowers a designated agent to make medical decisions on your behalf when you lack decision-making capacity. The scope of authority is determined by the language you include, and it can be limited to certain circumstances or comprehensive enough to cover a wide range of health decisions. The document becomes operative under conditions you specify, often when a physician determines you cannot make or communicate decisions. It is distinct from a financial power of attorney but can be used alongside other advance planning documents to create a complete plan for healthcare, finances, and end-of-life preferences.
Key Elements and Steps for Creating an Effective Document
Creating an effective healthcare power of attorney involves a few important steps: selecting a trusted agent, deciding the scope and limits of decision-making power, and specifying when the authority begins and ends. It also requires understanding state signing and witnessing requirements to ensure validity in Tennessee. Including clear guidance about treatment preferences, comfort measures, and the agent’s leeway helps reduce confusion. After drafting, you should distribute copies to the appointed agent, family members, and healthcare providers, and keep the original document in a secure but accessible place. Periodic review is recommended to confirm the plan remains aligned with your wishes.
Key Terms and a Short Glossary
Familiarity with terms commonly used in healthcare planning helps you make informed choices. Key concepts include capacity, agent, surrogate decision maker, advance directive, and living will. Understanding these phrases clarifies what powers you are granting and how those powers are exercised. Clear definitions reduce confusion when discussing options with family and medical staff. The glossary below provides concise explanations of the most relevant terms to help you and your agent act confidently. If any term is unclear, seeking clarification from a legal advisor or medical professional can help ensure the document aligns with your intentions.
Agent
An agent is the person you appoint to make healthcare decisions for you when you lack capacity. The agent acts according to the authority you provide in the document and should be someone you trust to interpret your values and medical preferences. The agent’s responsibilities include communicating with healthcare providers, accessing medical records as permitted by law, and making choices about treatment consistent with your stated wishes. Selecting an agent involves considering their availability, temperament under pressure, and willingness to follow your directives even if they disagree with them personally.
Capacity
Capacity refers to an individual’s ability to understand relevant information, appreciate the consequences of choices, and communicate decisions. Healthcare providers determine capacity in clinical settings, and a loss of capacity may trigger the activation of an agent’s authority under a healthcare power of attorney. Capacity can vary over time and may be specific to particular decisions. When capacity is uncertain, providers may seek assessments or involve ethics consultations to determine whether the agent should act. Defining when the document takes effect can reduce disputes and provide clearer direction for providers and family members.
Advance Directive
An advance directive is a broader term that includes documents such as a living will and a healthcare power of attorney, which together express preferences about future medical treatment. A living will typically sets out specific wishes about life-sustaining measures, while a healthcare power of attorney appoints someone to make decisions. Combining these documents creates a clearer plan for medical care, helping agents and providers understand both the person’s values and specific treatment preferences. In Tennessee, following state form and signature requirements helps ensure these documents are recognized by medical institutions.
Living Will
A living will documents your preferences regarding life-sustaining treatments and other end-of-life care choices in specific medical situations. It complements a healthcare power of attorney by providing written instructions that guide the agent and medical team. A living will can address issues such as artificial nutrition, resuscitation, and the use of mechanical ventilation, and it helps ensure that treatment decisions reflect your values if you cannot express them. Clearly drafted provisions reduce uncertainty and give healthcare providers clearer direction when making care decisions consistent with your wishes.
Comparing Options for Healthcare Decision-Making
When planning for future medical decisions you can choose among documents that assign decision-making authority, express treatment preferences, or both. A healthcare power of attorney appoints an agent to act on your behalf, while a living will records specific instructions about life-sustaining treatments. Some people choose both documents to cover both authority and specific wishes. Other alternatives include relying on default state rules about family decision-makers, which can lead to uncertainty or delays. Comparing options involves weighing flexibility, clarity, and the likelihood that your documented choices will be followed by providers and loved ones.
When a Limited Healthcare Authorization May Be Appropriate:
Short-Term or Specific Treatment Scenarios
A limited healthcare authorization may be appropriate when you want an agent to decide only in narrow circumstances, such as during a temporary incapacitating event or for a specific treatment decision while traveling or undergoing a particular procedure. This option allows you to give authority for defined periods or situations without granting broad, ongoing power. It can be useful for individuals who are otherwise able to make decisions but want a temporary back-up plan. Drafting the limitation clearly and communicating it to the agent and providers helps ensure the limited authority is applied as intended.
When Preferences Are Clear and Simple
If your medical preferences are straightforward and unlikely to change, a limited approach that combines a short living will with a targeted healthcare power of attorney may suffice. This can be suitable for people with clearly defined wishes about particular interventions where broad discretion is undesirable. It simplifies decision-making for the agent and reduces the need for ongoing revisions. Even when using a limited document, it remains important to ensure the paperwork meets Tennessee’s legal requirements and that the agent and healthcare providers have access to the document when needed.
Why a Comprehensive Planning Approach Often Makes Sense:
Complex Medical or Family Situations
A comprehensive planning approach is often beneficial when medical situations are complex or family dynamics could complicate decision-making. In such cases, combining a healthcare power of attorney, living will, and clear written instructions reduces ambiguity and prepares for a range of possible outcomes. Comprehensive planning can address how to handle disagreements among relatives, provide guidance on specific treatments, and create backup provisions if the primary agent is unavailable. This depth of planning helps ensure that the person’s healthcare goals and values remain central even in unpredictable circumstances.
Long-Term Care and Chronic Conditions
When facing long-term care needs or chronic health conditions, comprehensive planning becomes more important to ensure continuity of care and to anticipate future decision points. Detailed directives and a designated agent who understands your long-term goals can guide choices about ongoing treatments, transitions between care settings, and palliative options. Comprehensive planning also includes reviewing medical, legal, and financial arrangements to coordinate care effectively, address potential guardianship concerns, and preserve decision-making authority in ways that reflect your values and practical needs over time.
Benefits of Taking a Comprehensive Approach to Healthcare Planning
A comprehensive approach provides clarity, reduces the likelihood of family conflict, and ensures that your preferences guide medical decisions. It typically includes naming an agent, recording specific treatment wishes, and providing instructions for foreseeable scenarios. This approach helps medical teams quickly identify who is authorized to speak for you and what decisions align with your values. For families in Bean Station, comprehensive planning eases the emotional burden during crises by making roles and intentions explicit, enabling smoother coordination with hospitals and care facilities when time-sensitive choices must be made.
Comprehensive healthcare planning also supports continuity of care by aligning medical directives with other estate planning tools and practical arrangements. It can help prevent delays in treatment caused by uncertainty about authority and reduce the need for court-appointed decision-makers. By documenting both the agent and clear preferences, the plan increases the likelihood that providers will honor the person’s wishes, and it gives the appointed decision-maker confidence to act. Regular review keeps directives current with changing health conditions, relationships, and beliefs so that the plan remains effective over time.
Greater Clarity for Decision Makers
One major benefit of comprehensive planning is enhanced clarity for the person who may need to act on your behalf. Clear instructions and a formalized appointment reduce uncertainty about how to approach difficult choices and give the appointed individual authority that medical providers recognize. This clarity helps focus conversations on honoring the patient’s values rather than disputing authority or interpreting vague wishes. It also helps the agent obtain necessary records and participate directly in care planning, which supports timely and consistent decision-making aligned with the patient’s priorities.
Reduced Risk of Family Disputes
A comprehensive plan that documents both an appointed decision-maker and specific treatment preferences can reduce the risk of disputes among relatives during emotional times. When the person’s wishes are written clearly and a trusted agent is authorized to act, family conversations tend to be more focused and less adversarial. This clarity helps medical teams follow the designated path without prolonged debate, which can delay care. Establishing and sharing the plan in advance allows family members to understand the decision-making framework and prepare for difficult discussions with greater calm and respect.
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Practical Tips for Healthcare Power of Attorney Planning
Choose an Available and Trustworthy Agent
Select an agent who can be reached quickly and who is willing to act under pressure. Availability matters because medical decisions often must be made promptly. The right person should understand your values and be able to communicate clearly with healthcare professionals and family members. Discuss your wishes in detail with that person and provide written guidance so they know what to prioritize. Ensure the agent has copies of the document and knows where to find any related directives or medical records so there is no delay when their authority is needed.
Document Clear Treatment Preferences
Keep Documents Current and Accessible
Review and update your healthcare power of attorney regularly, especially after major life events such as changes in relationships, health status, or location. Make sure the appointed agent and key family members have copies and know where the original document is kept. Provide a copy to your primary care physician and discuss your directives with other medical providers so they are aware of your wishes. Keeping records accessible and current helps avoid confusion and ensures your directions will be followed when they matter most.
Reasons to Consider a Healthcare Power of Attorney in Bean Station
A healthcare power of attorney provides peace of mind by naming someone to make medical decisions according to your wishes if you cannot do so. It helps prevent delays in care and clarifies who is authorized to speak with providers, which is especially valuable during emergencies. For people with chronic health concerns, aging adults, or those who travel frequently, the document ensures decisions can be made by a trusted person. It is also useful for anyone who values having their personal values and treatment preferences honored when they are unable to communicate them directly.
Beyond immediate decision-making authority, the healthcare power of attorney can simplify coordination with healthcare facilities and reduce the need for court proceedings to appoint a decision-maker. Families in Bean Station can avoid difficult confrontations and uncertainty by documenting an agent and laying out treatment preferences ahead of time. The document complements a broader estate plan and supports continuity of care across different providers and settings. Taking these steps now can ease the burden on loved ones and help ensure your healthcare wishes are respected when it matters most.
Common Situations Where a Healthcare Power of Attorney Is Needed
Common circumstances that make a healthcare power of attorney important include sudden medical emergencies, progressive illnesses that affect decision-making capacity, surgeries with anesthesia risks, and advanced age when unexpected declines can occur. It is also important for people with complex or chronic conditions that may lead to periods of incapacity. In these situations, having a clearly appointed agent and documented preferences helps healthcare teams and family members act consistently with the patient’s wishes. Early planning reduces stress and protects autonomy by ensuring someone you trust can speak on your behalf.
Unexpected Medical Emergencies
Unexpected medical emergencies can create urgency and uncertainty about who should make decisions and what treatments to pursue. A healthcare power of attorney designates an individual to act immediately, streamlining communication with emergency responders and hospital staff. This designation helps ensure that decisions align with your values even when you cannot express them. It also reduces delays caused by searching for legal authority or waiting for consensus among relatives, enabling faster, more focused medical care tailored to the priorities you have documented.
Progressive Illness or Declining Capacity
Progressive illnesses and conditions that impair decision-making over time make advance planning especially important. A healthcare power of attorney allows a chosen person to guide care as capacity changes, coordinating treatments and decisions that reflect your long-term goals. The document can specify the circumstances under which the agent’s authority begins and provide instructions for medical interventions tolerant of the disease trajectory. This planning helps maintain continuity of care and reduces the emotional strain on family members who might otherwise face unclear responsibilities.
Planned Medical Procedures
Planned medical procedures involving anesthesia or hospitalization create temporary periods when you may be unable to communicate, making it helpful to have a healthcare power of attorney in place. Naming an agent ensures someone can consent to or decline specific treatments, manage post-operative decisions, and discuss recovery plans with medical staff. This preparation provides a safety net for routine surgeries as well as more complex interventions, giving both you and your loved ones confidence that there is a trusted decision-maker ready to act if you are temporarily incapacitated.
Healthcare Power of Attorney Services for Bean Station Residents
Jay Johnson Law Firm provides practical assistance to residents of Bean Station who need a healthcare power of attorney or related documents. We help clients understand state requirements, choose appropriate language, and select a decision-maker who will respect their values. Our approach emphasizes clear drafting, open communication, and ensuring that documents are properly executed and shared with providers. Whether preparing for routine medical care or addressing long-term planning needs, we assist clients in creating directives that provide clarity and reduce family stress during difficult healthcare decisions.
Why Hire Jay Johnson Law Firm for Healthcare Power of Attorney Planning
Choosing a legal team to prepare a healthcare power of attorney matters because the document should be accurate, legally valid in Tennessee, and reflect your personal priorities. Jay Johnson Law Firm focuses on thorough conversations to understand your wishes, drafting clear instructions, and advising on how the document works with other planning tools. We take practical steps to minimize ambiguity and to ensure the appointed agent understands their role. Our goal is to help clients create documents that are ready for immediate use by medical providers and that reduce stress for family members.
The firm assists clients through every part of the process, from explaining the available options to preparing and executing the paperwork correctly. We also provide guidance on distributing copies to the appointed agent, family members, and healthcare providers, which helps ensure the document will be recognized and used when needed. For residents of Bean Station and nearby communities, this support includes reviewing existing documents and making updates when life changes, so that the healthcare plan remains current and effective over time.
In addition to document preparation, Jay Johnson Law Firm answers practical questions about how healthcare powers of attorney are applied in real medical settings and offers strategies to communicate your wishes to loved ones. We aim to create straightforward, durable plans that align with your values and reduce potential conflict. By preparing now, you provide a clear path for the person you appoint and make it easier for medical teams to honor your preferences during critical moments.
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How the Healthcare Power of Attorney Process Works at Our Firm
Our process begins with an initial discussion to learn about your health priorities, family situation, and who you trust to act on your behalf. We explain how Tennessee law affects the document and outline options for scope and activation. Next, we draft clear language tailored to your wishes, review it with you, and arrange for proper execution following state requirements. Finally, we advise on distribution and recordkeeping so the agent, family members, and medical providers know where to find the document when it is needed. We also offer updates as circumstances change.
Step One: Consultation and Decision-Making
The first step is a focused consultation to understand your goals, the people you trust, and the medical preferences you want documented. We discuss the different elements that can be included in a healthcare power of attorney and how those choices affect decision-making authority. The conversation covers potential activation conditions, limits on authority if desired, and coordination with other planning documents. This step ensures the document will reflect your values and works in real-world medical settings, providing peace of mind about future healthcare decisions.
Choosing an Agent and Backup
During the initial meeting we help you consider who is best suited to serve as your agent and whether backup agents should be named. We discuss availability, willingness to act, and the ability to communicate with medical personnel. Naming a backup is important in case the primary agent is unavailable. We also guide conversations about how to explain your wishes to chosen individuals so they can act confidently when the time comes. Clear selection and preparation of the agent reduce uncertainty and support smoother decision-making.
Deciding Scope and Activation Conditions
We work with you to determine how broad or limited the agent’s authority should be and under what conditions it becomes effective. You can grant general authority for a wide range of healthcare matters or limit the agent to specific types of decisions. We also discuss how to express your preferences about life-sustaining treatment and comfort measures. Making these choices deliberately helps ensure the document behaves as you intend in different medical circumstances and reduces the chance of misinterpretation by providers or family members.
Step Two: Drafting the Document
In the drafting stage we translate your choices into clear, legally effective language that meets Tennessee requirements. The document will name the agent, define the scope of authority, and state activation conditions. We include any specific treatment preferences you want recorded and prepare complementary documents when appropriate. Careful drafting helps medical teams and family members understand the authority and instructions without ambiguity. We provide a final review to ensure the document aligns with your intentions and is ready for proper execution.
Preparing Clear Language
Clear, direct language reduces the risk of differing interpretations during stressful medical situations. We draft provisions that reflect your values and are specific enough to guide decision-making while allowing the agent reasonable discretion when unforeseen circumstances arise. The drafting process includes reviewing sample scenarios and clarifying terms so there is less room for conflict. Well-crafted language helps healthcare providers act in accordance with your wishes and gives the appointed agent confidence when making vital decisions on your behalf.
Ensuring Legal Formalities Are Met
Tennessee has signing and witnessing requirements that must be followed for a healthcare power of attorney to be recognized by medical providers. During drafting we make sure the document includes necessary attestations and follows the appropriate execution steps. We explain where to sign, how many witnesses are needed if applicable, and whether notarization is recommended. Meeting these formalities helps ensure the document will be accepted by hospitals, clinics, and long-term care facilities when the agent needs to act on your behalf.
Step Three: Execution and Distribution
After the document is finalized, we oversee proper signing and witnessing in accordance with Tennessee law, and provide copies to the appointed agent and other relevant parties. We recommend placing a copy with your primary care physician and any specialists involved in ongoing care, and keeping the original in a secure, accessible location. We also advise on how to discuss the plan with family members and healthcare providers so everyone understands the agent’s role and your medical preferences. Periodic review helps keep the document current as circumstances evolve.
Signing and Witnessing the Document
Proper signing and witnessing ensure the healthcare power of attorney is legally enforceable and recognized by medical institutions. We guide you through the execution process so the document meets Tennessee requirements, reducing the risk of rejection when medical decisions are needed. Witnesses should be impartial parties who can attest to your signature and capacity at the time of signing. Following the correct procedure helps establish the document’s validity and makes it easier for the appointed agent to act without facing administrative obstacles.
Sharing Copies with Key People
Distributing copies of the executed healthcare power of attorney to the appointed agent, family members, and healthcare providers increases the likelihood that the document will be used when needed. We provide guidance on who should receive copies and how to store the original safely while keeping accessible versions available for medical settings. Communicating the existence and location of the document ahead of time helps avoid delays and confusion, and ensures that the agent can begin acting immediately if the need arises.
Frequently Asked Questions About Healthcare Powers of Attorney
What is a healthcare power of attorney and why do I need one?
A healthcare power of attorney is a legal document that names someone to make medical decisions on your behalf if you cannot do so. It grants that person authority to communicate with providers, consent to or refuse treatments as allowed by the document, and help manage your care consistent with your stated preferences. Having one reduces uncertainty during medical emergencies and ensures a designated decision-maker has standing with hospitals and clinics when timely choices are required. It complements other planning documents and can be tailored to your circumstances and values. Preparing the document ahead of time gives your family a clear plan to follow, which eases stress and supports patient-centered decision-making.
How do I choose the right person to make medical decisions for me?
Choosing an appropriate agent depends on trust, availability, and the person’s willingness to carry out your wishes even in difficult situations. Consider someone who knows your values, can communicate well with medical teams, and is able to act decisively when needed. It can be helpful to discuss your preferences with the person you plan to appoint so they understand your priorities and feel prepared to act. Naming an alternate or backup agent ensures coverage if the primary person is unavailable. Regular conversations and sharing documentation reduces uncertainty and prepares the appointed individual to make decisions with confidence when necessary.
When does the healthcare power of attorney become effective?
The moment a healthcare power of attorney becomes effective depends on the language you include in the document and state practice. Many people choose activation when a physician determines that they lack capacity to make informed medical decisions, while others may specify immediate activation upon signing. Clear activation criteria reduce disputes about when the agent should act. Discussing activation with your legal advisor helps ensure the document aligns with your intentions and provides a practical mechanism for healthcare providers to recognize the agent’s authority without unnecessary delay or confusion in clinical settings.
Can I limit the authority I give to my agent?
Yes, you can limit the authority granted to your agent by including specific instructions or restrictions in the document. Limits may specify certain treatments the agent cannot authorize or confine decision-making to particular situations such as temporary incapacity. While limitations provide precise control, overly narrow language can create ambiguity and hinder the agent’s ability to respond to unanticipated circumstances. Balancing clarity with practical flexibility is important so the agent can act effectively in real medical situations. Discussing intended limits with a legal advisor helps ensure they are enforceable and clear to providers.
Do I need witnesses or notarization to make the document valid in Tennessee?
Tennessee has specific execution requirements for healthcare powers of attorney that should be followed to ensure the document is recognized by medical institutions. Depending on the form used, witnesses may be required and notarization can be recommended to add an extra layer of assurance. Following state formalities reduces the chance hospitals or clinics will question the document’s validity when the agent needs to act. During document preparation we explain the necessary steps and arrange for proper signing so the paperwork will be accepted by providers when the need arises.
How often should I review or update my healthcare power of attorney?
It is wise to review your healthcare power of attorney periodically and after major life events such as changes in relationships, health, or residence. Regular review ensures that the appointed agent remains the best choice and that your instructions still reflect your values. Updating the document when circumstances change helps prevent disputes and keeps the plan effective. Even if no changes are necessary, confirming that family members and your agent have current copies and understand your wishes is an important part of maintaining a reliable healthcare plan over time.
What happens if my appointed agent is unavailable or unwilling to act?
If your appointed agent is unavailable or unwilling to act, a named alternate agent can serve as a backup. It is important to name at least one alternate in the document to avoid gaps in authority. If no backup exists and no agent can act, healthcare providers may rely on state default rules about surrogate decision-makers or, in rare cases, seek a court-appointed guardian. To minimize that risk, designate alternates and communicate with those individuals ahead of time so they are prepared to step in if needed.
Will hospitals and doctors accept this document without a court order?
Hospitals and doctors typically accept a properly executed healthcare power of attorney that follows Tennessee legal requirements, allowing the appointed agent to make decisions on your behalf. Acceptance depends on meeting execution standards and clarity in the document’s language. Providing copies to your primary care provider and hospital before a crisis increases the likelihood they will recognize the agent. When questions arise, medical staff may request verification, but a well-drafted and correctly executed document should serve as valid authorization for the agent to act in most clinical situations.
Can my agent access my medical records and speak to providers?
An agent generally has the authority to access medical records and speak with healthcare providers to the extent permitted by law and the documentation in the healthcare power of attorney. This access enables the agent to make informed decisions that reflect your preferences. Healthcare facilities may request proof of the agent’s authority, such as a copy of the executed document, before releasing records. Clear documentation and prior communication with providers help the agent obtain needed information promptly and participate fully in care planning and decision-making on your behalf.
How does a healthcare power of attorney differ from a living will?
A healthcare power of attorney appoints a person to make medical decisions for you, whereas a living will records specific instructions about life-sustaining treatments and end-of-life care. The documents work together to guide decision-making: the living will provides direction about certain interventions, and the power of attorney designates who will interpret and implement those preferences in practice. Combining both documents often provides the most clarity for medical teams and loved ones, ensuring both the authority to act and clear statements of the patient’s treatment priorities.