The Importance of Advance Directives

If you become too sick to make your own decisions about your medical care, an advance directive tells your doctor what kind of care you would like to have.

If you have not given any instructions, no one will know what you have decided. A good advance directive describes the kind of treatment you want, depending on how sick you are. A living will is one type of advance directive.

Simply telling your loved ones about your decision isn’t enough. An advance directive does not have to be complicated, but it must be in writing. You can write an advance directive in several ways:

• Use a form provided by your doctor.
• Write your wishes down by yourself.
• Call your health department or state department on aging to get a form.
• Call a lawyer.
  
• Use a computer software package for legal documents.