*Medical Directives*

What would happen if you could no longer make decisions about your medical care because of a serious illness or injury? How would your family and doctors know your wishes?

You can plan ahead by writing an Advance Medical Directive also called an Advance Directive. A medical directive statement outlines the medical treatment you'd want or names the person you'd want to make health care decisions for you if you could no longer express your wishes.

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Facts:

Advance directives are legally valid throughout the United States.
A living will allows you to document your wishes concerning medical treatments at the end of life.
Before your living will can guide medical decision-making two physicians must certify:You are unable to make medical decisions,you are in the medical condition specified in the state's living will law (such as "terminal illness" or "permanent unconsciousness"),
A medical power of attorney (or health care proxy) allows you to appoint a person you trust as your health care agent (or surrogate decision maker), who is authorized to make medical decisions on your behalf.
Before a medical power of attorney goes into effect a person’s physician must conclude that they are unable to make their own medical decisions.