Advance Directives

From a reader:

You really have to love the euphemism for “end of life” planning documents that spell out how you want to be treated in your final hours. Let’s not act like we understand all the fine points of the current health care debate but the idea that talking about these issues with your family doctor is somehow a government scheme to thin out the population is just a bit baffling. And we won’t go near the Palin reference to “death panels”. Even though it’s so tempting, I’m inclined to think too much time has already been spent chasing those comedy routines.

What I’d suggest is that you spend a few minutes reading a well written article in the August 18th Wall Street Journal (page D2 if you use the library) that talks about “end of life” planning – it takes the politics out of the discussion and just explains the process and even tells you how to get free copies of the documents used in Ohio to legalize your final wishes.

The YS Senior Center usually has copies of the Ohio documents (for a small copy fee) and their friendly, knowledge staff will gladly schedule time to answer your questions.

To read the article click here. The Ohio documents are at http://www.caringinfo.org/UserFiles/File/Ohio.pdf.

As the article notes, many people say that by the time they reach the end, “I won’t care what happens.” Your family does care.