Advance Medical Directives

What are advance directives?

Advance medical directives are written documents regarding your wishes for medical treatment. They guide health care providers and your family in the event you become incapacitated and cannot express your wishes.

There are two types of advance medical directives. Discussions with your doctor, attorney, social worker or other health care provider may be helpful in determining the most appropriate document for you.

Your own personal values and views should determine the treatment you receive to meet your end-of-life wishes. SSM Health strongly encourages you to think about the kind of medical care you would prefer and to discuss your wishes with your family, your spiritual leader and your physician. Then, we recommend that you put your wishes in writing in a document called an Advance Medical Directive.

You can access more information online through the American Hospital Association, which provides you with helpful information about advance directives in both English and Spanish.

Our Pastoral Care department can be a resource if you need advice to answer questions or to complete an advance directive for a patient, or complete an advance directive for yourself. For more information on completing your own advance directive, contact Pastoral Care department.