End of Life Choices

You have the right (in the U.S.):

• To be fully informed and involved in decisions about your medical care, including end of
  life care
• To refuse or withdraw unwanted medical treatment, including food and fluids. This may
  be difficult to do if you are in an institution, as they are required to offer you food; but they may not force you to eat.
• To designate a proxy to make your medical decisions if you cannot
• To have your advance directives followed
• To end your own life without assistance and to have someone present; to use
  services of the Final Exit Network
• To be as pain free as possible including receiving palliative sedation
• To move to a state that permits physician or medical aid in dying; to use Dignitas or Life
  Circle in Switzerland
• To change doctors

Write down and discuss these options with loved ones and caregivers:

• Your medical and long-term care insurance
• Your assets and where to find them
• Whom you designate to speak for you (and alternates) for health care – and finances
• Treatments you want under what circumstances including CPR, food and fluids
• What you want done with your body; what kind of service you want

Documents: