Introduction
You can prepare for a potential medical crisis by taking steps today to ensure your participation in future health care decision:
- GATHER the information you need to make the right choices for you.
- TALK about end-of-life decisions with your family, friends, doctor, the clergy and any others close to you to help determine what quality of life and which decisions are important to you.
- PREPARE and sign advance directives that accurately reflect your decisions and comply with your state's law.
- INFORM your loved ones and doctor about your preferences and give them copies of your advance directives.
Getting The Right Information
Preparing for a potential medical crisis may seem daunting, but having the right information will make things easier. Numerous sources of information about end-of-life choices and how to make them are available to you, including:
- Your doctor
- The social work department or the patient representative office of your local hospital
- Death and dying sections of libraries and bookstores
Talking About The Issues
The following questions may help you discuss thee issues with family, loved ones and an agent:
- How do you want to be treated at the end of your life?
- Are there treatments you particularly want to receive or refuse?
- What are you afraid might happen if you can't make decisions for yourself?
- Do you have any particular fears of concerns about the medical treatments that you might receive? Under what circumstances?
- What makes those things frightening?
- What do phrases like no heroic measures or dying with dignity actually mean to you?
For more information, call Choice In Dying at (800) 989-WILL.
Related Articles:
- About Death and Dying
- Death & Dying Current Trends
- Death & Dying: Your Options
- Death & Dying: How Social Workers Help
- Tip Sheets on Death & Dying
- Resources on Death & Dying
- Death & Dying Real Life Stories
