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The New Mexico Advance Directive constitutes the joining of a medical power of attorney and a living will, creating a legal testimony of an individual’s wants and needs concerning health care. This precautionary standard filing clarifies a person’s desires should circumstances occur where they can’t effectively communicate a choice course of action. The living will segment of the arrangement summarizes the principal’s outlook related to life support options and organ donation preferences to give the doctor(s) an idea of how to proceed in possible scenarios. The health care POA portion of the contract determines who will speak on behalf of the declarant in the event of their potential incapacitation. The New Mexico form additionally provides space to identify the primary physician of the patient for further reference.

This document contains the following sections:

Part I: Power of Attorney for Health Care
Part II: Instructions for Health Care (Living Will)
Part III: Designation of Primary Physicians

Laws

Statutes – New Mexico Statutes – Uniform Health-Care Decisions (§ 24-7A-1 – 24-7A-18)

Definition – “Advance health-care directive” means an individual instruction or a power of attorney for health care made, in either case, while the individual has capacity (§ 24-7A-1(A)).

Signing Requirements – State legislature does not impose a mandate regarding corroboration by notary or witnesses, although it is suggested that there be two (2) witnessing parties made available to assist in the document’s execution to certify the event.

Revocation – § 24-7A-3