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Reasons for an Advance Directive

An advance directive is purely optional. All health care facilities such as hospitals that accept federal funding are required by law to ask if you have one and offer you the appropriate information and documents to sign one, if you so choose. Of course, the fact that you are reading this puts you one step ahead of the game.

• You should consider an advance directive if any of the following are true:
  
  
  • You want to be sure your voice is heard when you can no longer speak.
    
    
  • You want to be sure that your wishes are respected and followed in the event that you are unable to make medical decisions for yourself.
    
    
  • You want to be sure that you are not placed on life support machines or receive other life-prolonging treatment if you suffer from a terminal condition.
    
    
  • You want to be sure that, if you fall victim to a cardiac arrest after you have suffered with a long-term, end-stage medical condition, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or other heroic measures will not be performed.
  
  
• No doctor or health care provider can force you to complete an advance directive.
  
  
• If you do not complete an advance directive, then you will receive medical care to the fullest extent appropriate for your condition. However, a greater chance exists that you will receive more treatment or more procedures than you would want performed.
  
  
• If you cannot speak for yourself and you do not have an advance directive, then health care providers will look to the following people, in the order listed, for guidance with your care:
  
  
  • Your guardian (if court appointed)
    
    
  • Your spouse
    
    
  • Your adult child (or the majority of adult children who are reasonably available)
    
    
  • Either of your parents
    
    
  • Your adult brother or sister (or the majority who are reasonably available)
    
    
  • Other adult relatives
    
    
  • A close friend who is familiar with your activities, health, or religious or moral beliefs