As clinicians, we keep the wishes of our patients at the forefront of everything we do.

Our goal is to help our patients make informed decisions about their health and the care they need. But because of injury or severe illness, many people will not be able to make their own medical decisions at some point during their lives.

In many circumstances, we will look for close family members to help make medical decisions when you are unable to make those decisions. If you haven’t designated a medical decision maker, state laws will tell us who should fill that role for you. As families are complex and relationships complicated, these situations can be difficult when multiple people are involved with different decisions.

Your Voice

Identifying and naming your medical decision makers can help. This person knows you well and can be your voice, directing your care when you are unable to speak on your own behalf.

A medical decision maker only steps in when you are too sick to make your own decisions. 
You can choose a family member or friend to serve as your medical decision maker. You can even choose a group of people to serve as your medical decision makers, but one person will need to serve as your spokesperson. This is especially important in blended families or if “it’s complicated.”

If you are unable to make your medical decisions, your designated decision makers may speak to members of the medical team, be asked to approve treatments, or decide where you will have medical care.

Don’t Wait for a Crisis

It is best not to wait until there is a crisis to choose who you would want to be your medical decision maker. Because we can’t predict when we will need help, it is important to talk with your clinicians and your designated decision maker(s) about health decisions that may come up and what matters most to you overall.

So that your medical decision makers are prepared to step in, it is important to ask them to serve in that role and not make assumptions. It is best to choose a quiet time and place for the conversation to make sure the person understands what you are asking them to do.

State-specific documents

These decision makers are called different things depending on the state where you live, and documentation requirements can vary. We offer the Conversations Before the Crisis workbook which can help you walk through medical decision making.

Once you have completed those documents, please contact your primary care clinic with any questions and to have these documents included in your medical records. The clinic staff should be able to tell you if you require a notary in addition to two witnesses. This should be at no or limited cost to you. North Mississippi Health Services does not require that advance directive forms are notarized, but other health systems may.

Take the first step

You may not be ready to make major medical decisions…that’s OK. But choosing a medical decision maker before a crisis eases the burden for everyone. If you have questions about selecting your medical decision maker, we’re here to help!