Advance Directives are Critical!

What kind of medical care do you want if you become too ill or hurt to express your wishes?  I often hear people, including friends and family, claim they do not want extraordinary medical care in the event they are terminally ill.  However, they haven't taken the time to carefully document their wishes with specific instructions for medical providers and family members.  It is easy, while one is healthy and vibrant, to hypothesize what one may or may not want in a given situation.  Once actually in that often catastrophic condition, a person's thoughts may change.  So, I recommend re-visiting all medical documents frequently to ensure that the proper person will have authority and your wishes remain the same as when originally executed.

Advance Directives are mandates made by patients in advance which contemplates dire medical situations.  An Oklahoma Advance Directive is a statutory form, prescribed by the State of Oklahoma, which constitutes "clear and convincing" evidence of a patient's wishes at a time that he or she is no longer able to communicate.  Health care providers are legally required to do everything possible to save lives.  Therefore, if one's wishes are contrary to the "do everything" legal requirement, it is crucial that those wishes are memorialized utilizing an Advance Directive.  Equally critical is having an honest discussion with loved ones, and document the medical care you agree to and agree to decline in advance of your unexpected illness or injury.  Advance Directives should be clear regarding the care one wants, and do not want.