Advance health care directives and living wills are not complicated, but the content can be complex and should be thought through very carefully. It can be short, simple statements about what you want to be done or not done if you can’t speak for yourself.

It’s important to discuss your wishes with family members as well as legal, health, or other appropriate professionals when preparing such a document. It is particularly important to talk about your wishes with everyone who might be involved in your care. In times of stress, others may confuse their own wishes with yours.

Speak with your physician

It is important that you discuss your health care desires with your physician. They are likely to be the ones caring for you when your instructions become relevant and are much more likely to honor requests that have been communicated directly. Your physician can:

• Help you phrase your requests in a way that makes sense to medical professionals and can answer any questions you may have.
• Point out any inconsistent features of your requests. Sometimes refusing one kind of treatment contradicts your desire to receive another kind of treatment. Your physician can smooth out some of these “rough edges” and help make a consistent and coherent directive.

Speak with your family

Despite your best efforts to plan for all eventualities in a health care declaration, actual events may not “fit” your directives. It is therefore important that you discuss your desires with family and friends.

• Your family can often help clarify your directives on the basis of recollections of specific discussions under specific circumstances.
• If you have discussed your wishes with a number of people, it is more likely that those wishes will be honored.

• Keep the original copy of the advance directive yourself in a place that can easily be found, and give copies to:
  • Your chosen health care proxy (with directions on where to find the original).
  • Family members or other loved ones.
  • Your primary care physician, hospital, or health care institution. Ask that a copy is placed in your medical record and make sure your doctor will support your wishes.
  • Anyone named in the directive.

  A copy can also be sent to your attorney or kept in a safety deposit box or anywhere else you keep copies of a will or other important papers. Be sure that you have discussed the directive with the person you designate as your health care agent and that they understand your wishes and the responsibilities involved and will agree to honor those wishes.