Planning for Uncertainty: Living Wills and Other Advance Directives for You and Your Family

It won’t happen to me. I’m too busy to worry about a living will. My family will know what to do. No one wants to plan for death or incapacitating illness. But, as the emotional legal battle in the Terri Schiavo case made all too clear, people of all ages need to make and communicate clear decisions about the final details of their lives while they are healthy and have time to fully consider their own values and preferences. In the second edition of Planning for Uncertainty , Drs. David Doukas and William Reichel help individuals document their preferences and communicate their wishes to their health care providers, family members, and other loved ones. Drs. Doukas and Reichel use a question-and-answer format to guide readers through the process - emphasizing the connection between values on the one hand and treatment preferences on the other. They explain advance directives and the health care decision-making process, including the values history, family covenants, proxies, and proxy negation. The appendix includes resources and Web links for learning about advance directive requirements and obtaining legal forms in all fifty states. This practical guide helps people navigate the important but often intimidating process of thinking about, and planning for, an uncertain future.