Consumer health basics
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Living wills and advance directives for medical decisions
Living wills and other advance directives describe your treatment preferences in end-of-life situations when you can't speak for yourself.
Do you have a living will?
Life-threatening situations can happen to anyone, so it's important to have a living will or other advance directive. These documents spell out your preferences regarding medical treatments you would or would not want to keep you alive. You can also outline your preferences for other medical decisions, such as pain management or organ donation. By planning ahead, you can get the medical care you want and save your family from having to make tough decisions in a crisis.
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