Who can I name to make medical treat-ment decisions when I am unable to do so?
You can choose an adult relative or friend you trust as your “agent” to speak for you when you’re too sick to make your own decisions. Q – How does this person know what I would want? After you choose someone, talk to that person about what you want. You can also write down in the Advance Health Care Directive when you would or would not want medical treatment. Talk to your doctor about what you want and give your doctor a copy of the form. Give another copy to the person named as your agent. And take a copy with you when you go into a hospital or other treatment facility. Sometimes treatment decisions are hard to make and it truly helps your family and your doctors if they know what you want. Your Advance Health Care Directive also gives them legal protection when they follow your wishes. Q – What if I don’t have anybody to make decisions for me? You can can still sign an Advance Health Care Directive and just write what you want or do not want for medical treatment. When you sign the
