advance care directives

http://www.calhospital.org/public/advance-health-care-directive

If you have medical insurance, your HMO will have a form you can fill out and put in your medical record.

When you complete such a living will you will want to:

"name another individual as agent to make health care decisions for you

give specific instructions about any aspect of your health care, whether or not you appoint an agent

You can revoke the advance health care directive or replace it at any time."

Decisions you can make include prolonging or not prolonging life, relief from pain, organ donation.

NOLO press has more on these choices at: http://www.nolo.com/article.cfm/objectID/0EC7B488-D516-4373-BD1AD0B3A8CD2D13/309/292/295/ART/

See also NOLO press on wills and estate planning: http://www.nolo.com/resource.cfm/catID/FD1795A9-8049-422C-9087838F86A2BC2B/309/

medical power of attorney and living wills: http://www.nolo.com/resource.cfm/catID/EDC82D5A-7723-4A77-9E10DDB947D1F801/309/292/295/

health care and elder care: http://www.nolo.com/resource.cfm/catID/84404409-3882-4800-81764383AA66993B/118/207/