National Health Care Decisions Day

April 16, 2009 is National Health Care Decisions Day. It is a day to encourage people to work on advance directives. What are advance directives? I'm glad you asked. They are legal documents that give you say over what kind of medical treatment you do/don't want if you are unable to speak for yourself.

One for is a "Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care Decisions". This is a document in which you choose who you want to speak for you if you are unable to speak for yourself.

There is also the "Healthcare Treatment Directive". This is a document in which you say what procedures you do/don't want should you be unable to speak for yourself and there is no reasonable hope of living or achieving a quality of life that is acceptable to you.

Probably the best course of action is to have both. The ensures that you are not subjected to treatments that you would not want. Further, it helps your loved ones to make decisions based on your choices. Remember, in the moment of grief and denial, your family may not make the choices you want. If you write them out, it will give them comfort and structure.

I refer you to the following link for more information.

www.nationalhealthcaredecisionsday.org