You have the right to determine the type of care you want if you have a life-threatening illness. To make sure your wishes are carried through, discuss your medical care preference with your significant other, family members and doctor. Most importantly, complete advance directives.

Advance directives are documents that state your wishes/preferences about the type of medical care you receive. Your doctor uses these documents only if you are unable to make decisions about your medical care due to your medical state, such as a coma. Advance directives do the following:

• Documents your wishes/preferences
• Eases the decision-making burden on your loved ones
• Allows you to choose someone you trust to make decisions about your care
• Fosters peace of mind and sense of control
• Useful in case of sudden accidents/illness; chronic illness; advancing age
• Avoids unwanted medical/surgical treatments

If you do not complete advance directives and are unable to communicate your wishes, your medical treatment will be decided for you in accordance with the Health Care Surrogate Act.

Types of Advance Directives

• Living Will
  Describes your end-of-life wishes.
  Living Will (PDF)
  Living Will - Spanish (PDF)

• Power of Attorney for Healthcare
  Allows you to select a family member or friend – designated as an agent – as your medical decision-maker.
  Power of Attorney (PDF)
  Power of Attorney - Spanish (PDF)

• Mental Health Treatment Preference Declaration
  Allows you to select a family member or close friend as your mental health decision-maker. Expires three years from date signed.
  Mental Health Treatment Preference Declaration Form (PDF)

We encourage you to talk about your wishes with people who are important to you:

• Openly discuss your wishes with your significant other, family, doctor and clergy.
• Choose an agent - someone with whom you have discussed your wishes, and who is able and willing to represent them.
• Discuss your values, beliefs (health, illness, dying, fears) and wishes with your agent.
• Let your significant other and family know how to easily contact your agent/attorney-in-fact.
• Discuss organ donation with your significant other and family.

The Health Learning Center offers information, including a DVD, about advance directives. Visit the Center, located at 201 E. Huron, 3rd floor, suite 304, to get your questions answered.