Every
person over the age of 18 should complete an Advance Directive
or a Durable
Power of Attorney for Healthcare.The Advance Directive form
allows you to designate who would make medical decisions
if you are unable to do so, and also allows you to state
your wishes about prolonging life and under what circumstances.
You
should provide signed copies to the person you've
designated and to your doctor's office, and bring a copy
with you whenever
you are admitted to a hospital.
Please be aware that hospital employees are
not permitted to witness your signature on these documents.
If you don't have either an Advance Directive/Durable
Power of Attorney for Healthcare, or documents prepared
by an attorney for this purpose, the law specifies who
among your immediate family are the ones legally authorized
to make medical decisions for you if you are unable to
do so.
In addition to signing an Advance Directive, you should also speak with your family to make your wishes clear about organ and tissue donation. The surest way to indicate that you want to be an organ and tissue donor is to sign up on the Michigan Organ Donor Registry and receive a heart sticker for the front of your driver's license or state ID. This makes it clear what your wishes are after you die..
American
Hospital Association - Put It In Writing >>
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