When someone is diagnosed with a life threatening illness the patient and family experience a host of emotions and are faced with many difficult decisions. Those decisions become even more difficult because they often being made in a time of crisis. Advance Directives allow people to make their wishes known ahead of time. It allows the person to communicate their wishes even when they are too ill to voice them directly. Consider discussing with your lived ones your feelings toward

• comfort care versus aggressive treatment.
• artificially administered food and fluids.
• pain management.
• CPR.
• ventilators.

  Consider appointing someone in writing to act as your medical power of attorney. This is further assurance that your wishes will be carried out in the event that you are unable to express those wishes yourself.

  The following PDF document from the Arizona Department of Economic Security Aging and Adult Administration will get you started on your Advance Directives:

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(You will need Adobe PDF Reader to view the document. Get that download here.)