Tip 1 Tell your health care decision-makers that you named them
If you were very sick and unable to express your wishes regarding aggressive or non-aggressive treatment, who would speak for you? Do these people know you want them to speak for you?
The first person medical professionals want to talk to is you, but if you cannot communicate your wishes, they will speak to your spouse. Does your spouse know your wishes? What if your spouse was as sick as you? Then the medical professionals will speak to your parents (for non-married individual or person with young children) or to your adult children. Do your adult children get along with each other or with you? Will they all agree? Would you prefer a sibling speak for you rather than a parent or adult child?
What if this list does not meet your circumstances?
Identifying your primary health care decision-maker and a backup decision-maker is very important, but you also need to let those decision-makers know so they can step forward when the time comes.
Let Andrea Morisi help you do all of this. Call 703.335.9390 and schedule an appointment.
