Advance Directives
Your Right To Decide
From the State of Maryland:
Adults can decide for themselves
whether they want medical treatment. This
right to decide-to say yes or no to
proposed treatment-applies to treatments
that extend life, like a breathing machine or
a feeding tube. Tragically, accident or
illness can take away a person's ability to
make health care decisions. But decisions
still have to be made. If you cannot do so,
someone else will. These decisions should
reflect your own values and priorities.
A Maryland law called the Health Care
Decisions Act says that you can do health
care planning through "advance
directives." An advance directive can be
used to name a health care agent. This is
someone you trust to make health care
decisions for you. An advance directive can
also be used to say what your preferences
are about treatments that might be used to
sustain your life.
Montgomery Hospice flyers to help start the conversations
Advance Directive information
