A common example to think of is a car accident.  A person might be able to get better over time, but at the beginning not be able to make decisions about their care.  For example, a head injury might knock the person unconscious or require that the person be kept in a coma for a while.

Planning ahead with an AD can help your treatment go more smoothly.  For example, you might want to write down preferences and instructions about:

  • Your current health conditions,
  • Your current medications,
  • Allergies to medicines, foods, and other things,
  • Medications you prefer,
  • Medications you refuse,
  • How you prefer to take medicines (for example, in liquid, pill or shot form),
  • Who can and cannot visit you in a hospital,
  • And more…

Advance Directives and General Health Care

Most people do not realize that they can plan ahead for their general health care needs, too.  But end of life is not the only time that we might have something to say about our treatment and be unable to say it.