For Patients, Family & Community

An advance health care directive is a legal form that lets you make known ahead of time what kind of health care you want or do not want if you become too ill to speak for yourself. Although most health care providers agree that it is important for adults to have an advance directive, less than 30% of Americans have these forms.

Advance directives:

• protect your right to accept or refuse medical treatment.
• make your choices known, and let you choose a person who will speak for you.
• help your family, by freeing them of the stress of having to make difficult decisions for you
• help your doctor, by giving directions for your care

Download an advance directive form:

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For more information about advance directives, please visit Makeyourwishesknown.org.