A person who does not want this to happen to them should let their doctor and family know their wishes on these issues. Because of a sickness or even injury, a person may not be able to inform other people of their wishes. For this reason, a person might want to use a paper that known as an AAdvance Directive.@ AIt tells your doctor and other care givers what you want if you need care when you are not able to speak for yourself. There are two common types of advance directives. One of these types is called a ALiving Will.@ The other is called a ADurable Power of Attorney for Health Care@ (Medicare). With a living will, the patient states what health care he or she wants or does not want in the event they have a medical emergency and are unable to speak for themselves. Also, the living will is made by the patient while they are still in good health to inform the doctors about the use of artificial life support systems if the need for them arises. It is also called a living will because it takes effect while the person is still alive. A fact about the living will that is extremely important is to tell your family members and close friends about it and to give a copy of it to some of them along with your doctor.
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A durable power of attorney for health care allows a patient to select another person to make the medical decisions for them. All medical decisions will be made by this person if the patient is not able to speak for him or her self. The other person named in this document is known as an Aagent.@ This agent may be any trusted individual who is known by the patient from a family member, a close friend, or even the patient=s lawyer. The agent must be made well aware of the patient=s wishes and the instructions to follow should there be a medical emergency to arise. The patient may also name two separate people in their durable power of attorney for health care. If this is the case, the first person would be the primary agent while the second one would be the alternate.