"If you cant speak[,] documents such as Five Wishes help make clear what relatives should do..."

"The burdens on a family are significantly reduced when the patient has made decisions in advance--for instance, choosing a surrogate to act on his or her behalf by filling out a durable power of attorney for health care.  A living will, also known as an advance directive, helps a proxy understand the patients wishes--and 'avoids the suspicion that a family is doing something for ulterior motives'..."

--Chu, Jeff, "What If It Happens In Your Family?," Time Magazine, 4/4/05, pp. 28-29

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