Summary: An advanced directive helps provide clear guidance to physicians when you are unable to express wishes yourself.Unfortunately, life and death decisions are made in the emergency room every day. Oftentimes there isn’t a knowledge of a patient's wants or intent. Having an advanced directive will help you provide clearer guidance to physicians and family members when you are unable to express wishes yourself. Each and every member of your family -- from your elderly or aging parents, to your children, should have some sort of advanced directive in place. While it can be a sensitive subject to bring up with family members, having an advanced directive will make things far easier down the road. The New York Times recently reported on the matter, which is helping to bring awareness. Dr. Dan Morhaim, author of The Better End, joins Dr. Leigh to sort through all of the confusion where advance directive is concerned.
