Advance Directives and Power of Attorney

• Anyone 17 years of age and capable of making decisions, whether sick or healthy, can fill out the Advance Directives form or appoint someone with power of attorney.
• The law provides clear guidelines to prevent prolonged suffering in cases of terminal illness but strictly prohibits euthanasia.

• The forms allow anyone who wishes to do so to determine in advance the medical treatment they will receive in the event of a terminal illness with no possibility of recovery, either by providing advance medical directives or by appointing a health care proxy.
• Anyone who sends a form to the Center will receive a confirmation letter stating that the form has been deposited in the registry.
• A form deposited in the registry will be stored and made accessible to physicians and nurses through the hospital medical record, in order to ensure that the wishes of the person completing the form are respected when needed.
• The forms take effect only when all of the following conditions are met for the person who signed the form:
  • A physician has defined them as terminally ill (with no possibility of recovery).
  • They are experiencing significant suffering, as defined in the form.
  • They are not conscious or are unable to express their wishes.

Types of Forms

1. Advance Medical Directives for Future Medical Treatment (First Addendum)

• This form reflects the wishes of the person signing it regarding refusal of certain medical treatments or consent to life-prolonging medical treatments.
• The person completing the form may define what “significant suffering” means to them—if this occurs, the directives will take effect.

2. Power of Attorney for Medical Treatment Decisions (Second Addendum)

• This form is intended for appointing a health care proxy who will be authorized to decide, on behalf of the person appointing them, which medical treatment will or will not be provided if that person becomes terminally ill and is not competent to make decisions.
• More than one proxy may be appointed.
• The person completing the form may define what “significant suffering” means to them—if this occurs, the power of attorney will take effect.
• This power of attorney applies only to medical matters and does not address financial matters.

3. Power of Attorney for Medical Treatment Decisions – Short Version

• This form is intended for appointing a health care proxy who will be authorized to decide, on behalf of the person appointing them, which medical treatment will or will not be provided.
• More than one proxy may be appointed.

4. Instruction to Extend the Validity of Advance Medical Directives or a Power of Attorney

• This form allows you to extend the validity of advance medical directives, or to extend the validity of a power of attorney or short-form power of attorney.
• Under the law, the validity of the forms must be extended every five years.
• The Ministry of Health will send a reminder to complete the extension form every five years, as long as the form remains valid.
• If the validity of a form is not extended, it will become invalid but will remain in the registry, and the physician may take its instructions into consideration.

5. Instruction to Revoke Advance Medical Directives or a Power of Attorney

• This form is intended for individuals who wish to revoke forms they have signed and that are stored in the Ministry of Health registry.

Steps to Submit Forms

1. Fill Out the Appropriate Forms
   • Select the form relevant to your case and complete it in full.
   • The 'Advance Medical Instructions' and 'Power of Attorney' forms must be filled out with the guidance of a licensed doctor or nurse.
   • The following forms can be filled out independently:
     • Short-form Power of Attorney
     • Instruction to Extend the Validity of Advance Medical Instructions
     • Instruction to Extend the Validity of a Power of Attorney
     • Instruction to Cancel Advance Medical Instructions or Power of Attorney
2. Sign the Forms
   All forms must be signed in the presence of two witnesses who are not first-degree relatives, with both witnesses present at the time of signing.
3. Submit the Forms
   Forms can be submitted in one of two ways:
   • Online Submission
     • Log in to the portal after authentication.
     • Complete the online form.
     • Attach the Doctor's Declaration form and a copy of your ID and annex (not required for the short-form Power of Attorney, validity extension, or cancellation forms).

• Submission by Registered Mail
  • Choose a form from the downloadable files list at the bottom of this page, print it, fill it out by hand, and sign it.
  • Attach the Doctor's Declaration form and a copy of your ID and annex (not required for the short-form Power of Attorney, validity extension, or cancellation forms).
  • Send via registered mail to: Center for Advance Medical Instructions, Ministry of Health, P.O. Box 1176, Jerusalem 9101002.

1. After completing the forms and sending them to the Center for Advance Medical Instructions at the Ministry of Health, the forms are reviewed. If the forms are correct, they are stored in the information database. If errors are found, the submitters will receive the forms back by registered mail or email (if submitted online) with a request to correct them.
2. Processing time for forms until a response is sent:
   • Manually completed forms – up to 60 business days (12 weeks)
   • Online forms submitted via the portal – 2 to 3 business days
3. After processing the request, confirmation of receipt and storage in the database will be sent. Those who submitted by mail will receive confirmation by mail, and those who submitted online will receive confirmation by email.

It is important to store the forms in the database to ensure your instructions are followed when needed.