Content Overview 
- Summary
- Make Sure Your Documents Follow The Law Of The State(s) In Which You Reside And That Your Intent Is Clear.
- Choose A Doctor That Will Respect Your Wishes
- Choose A Hospital That Respects Your Wishes
- In The Hospital, Make Sure Your Wishes Are Known Up Front
- Re-execute Your Advance Directives Every Year
- Have A Discussion With Your Family Members
- Whom You Appoint As Your Health Care Proxy
- If A Hospital Or Other Health Care Provider Refuses To Comply With Your Wishes Or The Wishes Expressed By Your Healthcare Proxy
Summary
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Every state has at least one advance directive law. Doing everything by-the-book doesn't guarantee your wishes will be carried out.
There are a variety of reasons. For example:
- A good percentage of doctors refuse to accept patient's requests for religious or moral reasons - or even because they fear criminal charges or civil suits.
- The forms may be vague.
- The forms may not be the ones used by a particular medical facility.
- A hospital may have a policy of continuing life at all costs.
If your wishes are not carried out, you can be subjected to prolonged and expensive treatment that you don't want - and you may have to pay for it.
To maximize the chances your wishes will be honored:
- Choose doctors that preferably agree with your wishes. If not, at least choose doctors who agree to abide by them.
- Choose a hospital that honors your wishes.
- Make sure your Advance Directives are included in your chart.
- Re-execute your Advance Directives every two years. It's easy.
- Discuss your wishes with your family.
- Appoint a Proxy who can enforce your wishes.
- Talk about what kind of attorney to hire if it becomes necessary. Maybe even pick one yourself now.
To Learn More
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