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Arrange Support Network

There may be times in the hospital when you can't communicate your preferences about your care. You may be medicated, in severe pain, or unconscious. So, before you enter the hospital, arrange for someone to act as your spokesperson, and make sure that person has the authority to make sure your wishes are followed.

Appoint a Spokesperson. Whether you choose a family member or friend, this person should be commited to spending a lot of time at the hospital and should be easily reachable at all other times. Before you go into the hospital:

• Let the spokesperson know who your doctors are and which one will be in charge of your care.
• Introduce this person to your primary physician, if possible.
• Let other family members and friends know who your spokesperson is, and ask them to respect that choice.
• Tell your spokesperson what you have learned about the course of your care, pain management, and issues relating to your medication, as discussed in Prepare with Your Doctors.
• Ask this person to review the information in Know Your Patient Rights and Reduce Your Risks. It can help him or her to be a more effective spokesperson about your care.

Put Your Wishes in Writing. Before entering the hospital, you should put together an Advance Directive, a written document that gives someone you choose the legal authority to make decisions on your behalf if and when you are unable to do so. The document serves several purposes:

• Makes clear who you want to make decisions for you if you cannot;
• Sets out your wishes regarding artificial life-support and other end-of-life choices; and
• Is legally binding, meaning it cannot be overridden by family, doctors, or the hospital.

Once you have completed an Advance Directive, give one copy to the person you name in the directive as your decisionmaker, as well as a copy to each of your doctors, the hospital administrator, and your family members.

For more information on Advance Directives, and instructions for executing one, go to the National Institutes of Health's MedlinePlus site.