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12 views1 page

1 What-to-Talk-About-en

Uploaded by

Kait Lewis
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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What to Talk About

Use this form to help begin conversations with your spokesperson, loved ones and health
care providers.

What you are asking a spokesperson to do Your beliefs

When you ask someone to be your spokesperson, you’re If you couldn't speak for yourself, what would be meaningful
asking for a big responsibility. You and your spokesperson or important to you? The worksheets "Imagining Different
want to be comfortable with this. You don’t want this person Situations" and "My Strongly Held Beliefs" will help you think
to agree to be your spokesperson if they really have strong about and talk about these things. The worksheet "My Last
doubts. Days" will help you discuss what is important to you at the
very end of your life.
To start the conversation, you can ask questions like:
Life-sustaining treatments
"I've been doing some thinking about who might be able to
speak on my behalf regarding my medical care if I can’t Life-sustaining treatments are medical treatments that keep
speak for myself. Would you consider doing it?" you alive for a period of time but will not cure you or make
you better. Use the worksheet When I Would or Wouldn't
"Would you feel comfortable doing this?"
Want Life‑Sustaining Treatments to help you express your
"Do you think you can make decisions for me that are based views.
on my values, preferences, and wishes, even if they're
Your mental health care preferences
different from yours?"
If you have a serious mental health condition, you may want
If the person agrees to be your spokesperson, you can to use the worksheet Mental Health Care Preferences to
reassure them that you aren’t expecting them to be record your views and to help you speak with your
“superhuman” or “all knowing.” Tell them they have your spokesperson, family members, and close friends.
permission to make decisions for you. This is especially
important for situations that you haven’t discussed or can’t Who to contact
predict. Encourage them to make decisions according to You may have specific preferences for certain people you
how they think you would. want your health care providers to contact—or not to
contact—if you have a medical emergency or a mental
Whom you have chosen as your spokesperson
health crisis. You can use the worksheet Who to Contact in
Once your spokesperson has agreed, you should let your an Emergency to discuss your preferences.
loved ones know that you have chosen a spokesperson and
tell them who that person is. This is especially important if What you value
your spokesperson isn’t a member of your family. You might You may have specific preferences for who you would like to
say something like this: care for your children, pets, home, or other things if you are
unable to do so. You can use the worksheet Taking Care of
I've asked [name of the person you've chosen] to be my
What I Value to guide your discussion.
spokesperson in case I need medical care and can't speak
for myself. After careful thought, I feel that [person’s name] What you want to happen after your death
is the right person to handle this responsibility.
The worksheets Organ Donation and Autopsy and Burial and
Also, you should let family and friends know if you filled out Funeral Arrangements will help you think about and discuss
a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care document to what you want to happen after you die.
legally appoint your spokesperson as your health care agent.
You should provide your loved ones with a copy of the
document.

What to Talk About // Get more info at planninghealthcaremyway.org

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