An accident, a stroke, a sudden cardiac arrest: these emergency situations can leave your loved ones unable to know your medical wishes. Advance directives are a legal response to this problem, and digital tools now make them accessible and transmissible in complete security.
What Are Advance Directives?
Advance directives (ADs) are a legal document in which you express your wishes regarding the medical care you want (or don't want) to receive if you're unable to express your will.
In many countries, the right to write advance directives is legally protected. They are binding on medical professionals, except in cases of absolute emergency or if they seem manifestly inappropriate to the medical situation.
They can cover:
- Refusal of disproportionate treatment (aggressive life-prolonging measures)
- Desire for palliative care
- Position on resuscitation
- Organ donation
- Wishes regarding specific treatments
The Trusted Person
Alongside advance directives, you can designate a "trusted person" who will be consulted if you can no longer express yourself. This person must be informed of their responsibilities and have access to your advance directives.
This doesn't need to be your legal heir or closest relative. You can designate anyone you wish (friend, colleague, etc.).
Why the Digital Dimension Matters
Accessibility in Emergencies
Advance directives stored in a desk drawer or with your notary risk being inaccessible in a medical emergency. Care providers need quick access to them.
Easier Updates
Your wishes may evolve. A digital document is easier to update than a paper document stored with a third party.
Transmission to Multiple Stakeholders
Primary care physician, emergency responders, family members: multiple people may need access to your directives.
How to Manage Your Advance Directives Digitally
Step 1: Write the Directives
Advance directives can typically be written on plain paper. They should be dated, signed, and include your full name and date of birth. No notary is usually required.
Templates are available from health ministry websites in most countries.
Step 2: Store Them with Your Healthcare System
Many countries offer digital health portals where you can store advance directives online, accessible to healthcare professionals treating you.
Step 3: Transmit Them to Loved Ones via EchoPass
To make your directives accessible to your loved ones in an emergency (not just to care providers), include them in your EchoPass messages. You can:
- Attach the PDF of your directives or summarize them in a message
- Indicate the existence and location of the original document
- Specify the name and contact information of your trusted person
- Give specific instructions for the most important decisions
Step 4: Inform Your Primary Care Physician
Your primary care physician should know you have advance directives. They can keep them in your medical file or direct you to the appropriate registry.
Emergency Medical Information to Transmit
Beyond advance directives, several pieces of medical information can be invaluable in an emergency:
For first responders:
- Blood type and Rh factor
- Serious drug and food allergies
- Current medications (blood thinners, insulin, etc.)
- Important chronic conditions (diabetes, epilepsy, etc.)
- National health insurance number
For your loved ones:
- Your primary care physician's contact information
- Your specialists' contacts
- Relevant medical history
- Location of your health records
- Instructions for accessing your digital health portal
Secure Storage of Medical Information
Medical information is among the most sensitive that exists. Its transmission must be handled with care:
What not to do: store your medical information in an unencrypted file on your computer or send it via unsecured email.
What to do: use a service like EchoPass to store and transmit this information in encrypted form, only to the relevant people.
EchoPass allows configuring short-term emergency messages (triggered after 15-30 days without login) specifically for medical emergencies, separately from long-term succession messages.
See also: our guide on family digital emergency planning and how to create a dead man's switch online.