Page 25 - seniors today August issue
P. 25
Advance Directive –
A Living Will
expression of the patient’s wishes and will be officer of the local Government or the Municipal
given effect to. Corporation or Municipality or Panchayat, as
the case may be. The aforesaid authorities shall
Procedure for recording the Advance Directive nominate a competent official in that regard
1. The document should be signed by the who shall be the custodian of the said document.
executor in the presence of two attesting 7. The JMFC shall cause to hand over a copy of
witnesses, preferably independent, and the Advance Directive to the family physician, if
countersigned by the jurisdictional Judicial any.
Magistrate of First Class (JMFC) so designated 5. The JMFC shall cause to inform the immediate
by the concerned District Judge. family members of the executor, if not present
2. The witnesses and the jurisdictional JMFC at the time of execution, and make them aware
shall record their satisfaction that the document about the execution of the document.
has been executed voluntarily and without 6. A copy shall be handed over to the competent
any coercion or inducement or compulsion officer of the local Government or the Municipal
and with full understanding of all the relevant Corporation or Municipality or Panchayat, as
information and consequences. the case may be. The aforesaid authorities shall
3. The JMFC shall preserve one copy of the nominate a competent official in that regard
document in his office, in addition to keeping it who shall be the custodian of the said document.
in digital format.
4. The JMFC shall forward one copy of the 7. The JMFC shall cause to hand over a copy of
document to the Registry of the jurisdictional the Advance Directive to the family physician, if
District Court for being preserved. Additionally, any.
the Registry of the District Judge shall retain the
document in digital format.
5. The JMFC shall cause to inform the immediate
family members of the executor, if not present
at the time of execution, and make them aware
about the execution of the document.
6. A copy shall be handed over to the competent
