Advance Directives
In the state of Michigan, a health care advance directive is a legal document in which you give directions about your health care. With this document, you are able to give directions as to the kind of health care you do or do not want to receive, if in the future you cannot speak for yourself. You are able to name a person as your "patient advocate" to make sure your wishes are carried out, including decisions about life-sustaining treatments.

An advance directive gives your "patient advocate" the right to participate in discussions and to weigh the pros and cons of treatment decisions based on your wishes. Your "agent" can make decisions for you whenever you are unable to decide for yourself, even if your decision-making ability is only temporarily affected.

An advance directive also provides support to your family. By letting people know what your wishes for treatment are, your family and friends will not be left to guess what you would want done. This is a great help to families and friends at a time which is often very difficult and stressful for them.

Advance Directive Documents
There are two types of advance directives, a "living will" and a "medical power of attorney". A living will allows you to put into writing your wishes about medical treatment should you be unable to communicate at the end of life.

A medical power of attorney is a document that lets you appoint someone you trust to make decisions about your medical care, if and when you cannot make those decisions yourself. This may also be called a "health care proxy", "appointment of health care agent" or a "durable power of attorney for health care".

See "Advance Directives" link below to obtain copies of these documents: 
Durable Power of Attorney
Living Will
Do-not-resuscitate order