What would happen to you if you were too ill to make your own medical decisions? Advance directives help you make your own decisions ahead of time. One type of advance directive involves appointing a person to make decisions for you if you are unable. This is called a durable power of attorney for health care. The other type of advance directive is a living will. A living will is a legal document. In the living will, you can state what you would and would not accept for health care if you were unable to communicate your wishes at the time.

Regulations regarding living wills vary from state to state. Some use state forms and others use personal forms. Hospitals and nursing homes are required by law to ask if you have a living will before you are admitted and to help you with one if you want.

Most states allow you to make decisions in your living will about receiving food, water, medications, and so on, as well as being placed on respirators and other equipment. Check with a hospital in your area for more information. You can also contact Choice in Dying at (212) 366-5540 for more assistance. Their address is 250 W. 57th St., New York, NY, 10107.

Making advance directives ahead of time can assist your loved ones when you are too ill to communicate. Many health care providers believe that everyone, no matter what their age or state of health, should have either a living will or a durable power of attorney for medical care. Make sure your primary health care provider has copies of your advance directives in your medical chart.

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