End-of-Life Decision Making (cont.)

Medical Author:

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.

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Medical Editor:

Jerry R. Balentine, DO, FACEP

Jerry R. Balentine, DO, FACEP

Dr. Balentine received his undergraduate degree from McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland. He attended medical school at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine graduating in1983. He completed his internship at St. Joseph's Hospital in Philadelphia and his Emergency Medicine residency at Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center in the Bronx, where he served as chief resident.

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What should the advance directive say?

It's hard to predict your medical situation when an advance directive document takes effect. You could be confined to a bed or a chair. You may not be able to recognize people or have a conversation. You may not be able to read or understand what is said to you. You may feel that if you reached that point, there's not much to live for.

• It's nearly impossible to write an advance directive that will take into account the exact circumstances that you will be in at the end of your life. You do not need to write a detailed directive that says what your family should do in each possible situation.
• Discuss your preferences with your family or those close to you whom you'd trust to make the same health care decisions you'd make if you were able to make your own decisions.

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