Advance health care directiveFollow

Make one. Yes, yes, you're not going to go into a coma right this moment (except maybe you ancients - you know who you are) but don't dump this on your kids. Telling them: "You know I don't want to have any of that stuff, right?" in reference to, say, the Shaivo case may seem perfectly clear at the time, however, it isn't good enough.

Signed,

A kid who's dad doesn't have one.

sooo, whats going on? everything ok?

I wonder how much they are. I don't have one now, but I expect to make all kinds of contingency plans like insurance to pay off the house, education and advanced directives for myself and my partner once I make babies. It's one thing to lay it on a responsible adult, another entirely to burden a child.

Well, my Dad had a massive stroke effecting the majority of one side of his brain. Right side paralized. Been in the intensive care unit for almost two weeks now. He has been in and out of conciousness but he seems to understand us pretty clearly when he is awake as he can shake or nod. He spoke recently (for the first time since the event) and indicated he doesn't want to continue. However, he isn't on anything except a feeding tube. Based on what he said to me earlier, I would not have put in the tube. However, I was not around and my three sisters did have it put in. Dad wasn't really uniform in what he said to each of us, and even from what he said to me, which I gather was perhaps the most extensive, was really vague.

His prospect for recovery is pretty good. It is unlikely he would regain total independence - but it is not out of the question.

The doctors are unsure how much he really understands - thus they are not going by his spoken request. Ironically, it may be just a matter of time until he gets better enough to convince them he's ready to die. Maybe he'll change his mind - or maybe he won't even remember.

I feel horrible about the whole thing.

So, spare your loved ones this uncertainty. Fill out the form and file it. My understanding is that it is free.

The Advance Health Care Directive is similar to a Power of Attorney for Health Care Decisions or a Living Will. It basically sets out that for almost every health care decision that you could have made on your own, your designated agent can do so for you, in accordance with your wishes in the Directive.

I always urge everyone to make one out as part of the planning of their estates, even though you may not have a spouse or children.

As an alternative to the Advance Health Care Directive, you can use what is called the Five Wishes, something that is recognized in about half of the country. This is the Five Wishes. Always check to see whichever form you use is the most up to date.

As an alternative to an Advance Health Care Directive, you can always check into the Five Wishes document. Anyone who has questions, PM me.