Start with an Advance Directive

Today I did something mature. I wrote down

• the name of the person I want to make my health care decisions if I become unable to, 
• under what circumstances I want to receive life-sustaining treatments, and
• which organs and tissues to donate upon my death.

The eight-page legal document, called an advance directive, is ready to be put into effect once I have two witnesses sign it and talk my wishes over with the individual mentioned above, known as a health care proxy or advocate. I'll also note in the medical information card in my wallet that I have an advance directive in place and whom should be contacted.

I should've done this years ago. Especially for people with chronic illnesses, our health can change quickly and threaten our lives any day. Even for healthy people, one person's mistake on the road is all it takes to us unresponsive. You don't want your loved ones wracked with guilt over hasty decisions made on your behalf or delaying treatment as they debate what you would've wanted.

If you're a Michigander, you can use the same form I used, which I found here. Others can check with their own state bar association or get started with Five Wishes, a format for creating a living will, which is a major part of an advance directive.

Photo: Mark Warner, Flickr Creative Commons

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Darla Nagel is an editor and writing tutor who has an invisible chronic illness. She wants to help other patients and enlighten health care professionals about our experiences. If you’d like to be alerted whenever she writes a new post, sign up by emailing [email protected].