Plan for future medical care in case you are unable to make your own
decisions. There’s only one person who is truly qualified to tell
health care providers how you feel about different kinds of health care
issues—and that’s you. But, what if you get sick, or injured so
severely that you can’t communicate with your doctors or family members?
Have you thought about what kinds of medical care you would want? Do your
loved ones and health care providers know your wishes? Many people assume
that close family members automatically know what they want.
You can help assure that your wishes will direct future health care
decisions through the process of advance care planning.
A health care proxy lets you name someone to make decisions about your
medical care--including decisions about life support--if you can no longer
speak for yourself. It becomes effective any time you are unable to make
your own medical decisions, not only at the end of life.
A living will is a document that provides specific instructions
about health care treatment. It is generally used to declare wishes to
refuse life-sustaining treatment under certain circumstances. A
Living Will is a state-specific legal document. The National
Hospice and Palliative Care Organization provides free state-specific
advance directive documents and instructions.
Each day, about 70 people receive an organ transplant. However, 17
people die each day waiting for transplants that can’t take place
because of the shortage of donated organs. Making your decision to
donate your organs known can save lives. Visit the Official Organ
Donation and Transplantation Web site of the U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services to download a donor card.
Remember:
Make these decisions in advance, not just when you are planning to
enter the hospital.