Office of the Attorney General of Arizona, Mark Brnovich
Life Care Planning Packet: General Information and instructions
STEP FOUR
SOME QUESTIONS AND TOPICS TO CONSIDER AND DISCUSS
Be sure that you speak with your representative about your choices, so that he/she can make medical decisions on
your behalf in the way you would want. This is the only way you will get the benefit of having your “substituted judgment”
used rather than your representative or physician’s evaluation of what is in your “best interests.” Remember, your
representative may be asked to make many medical decisions for you if you are no longer competent to or cannot
communicate your wishes. These are not only ultimate “life and death, turn-off-the-machine decisions,” but also decisions
about day-to-day medical care, placement in a nursing facility or hospital, administration of certain medication, etc.
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Your Spouse, Children, Other Relatives, and Close Friends
Consider sharing your thoughts about some or all of the above issues with your spouse and children and whoever is
closest to you and most likely to be affected emotionally or otherwise by your medical condition and the decisions that
must be made. Sometimes problems arise because family members do not understand what the patient would want in a
given situation, or they disagree about what treatment is best for the patient. Although the designated representative is
legally empowered to make decisions on behalf of the patient, uncertainties can raise concerns for the treating physicians
and can result in problems, delays, misunderstandings, and even court proceedings.
This is why it is important that you discuss your beliefs, values and preferences about medical care not only with the
person you choose as your health care representative but also with family, relatives, and close friends. This will give them
an opportunity to learn from you what medical care you want and will make decisions easier for your representative and
your physicians should the time come when you cannot make medical decisions for yourself.
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Your Doctor, Clergyperson and Others
You can get medical information about many issues related to the Life Care Planning forms, but only your doctor can
give you the personal medical advice you need to make the best choices for you. Do not hesitate to talk with your doctor
about these forms and ask for your doctor’s opinion about what is best for you.
You may have religious beliefs that influence your choices. Discuss your choices with your clergyperson. You can
also learn more about the positions of different faiths from religious magazines, newspapers, or Internet web pages
published by various faith groups.
Finally, a lawyer, accountant, banker, or others with whom you have a relationship may also have advice for you
about life care planning and choices that are best for you
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Now that you have a general idea of some of the topics that are important in Life Care Planning and you have
identified some of the people with whom you should have these conversations, there are some questions you should
consider. You do not have to discuss all these topics with everyone, and you may choose to discuss only some of these
topics, or none of them. We are all different and we approach questions about disability and end of life medical care
differently. There is no right or wrong way, so do what is best for you.
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QUALITY OF LIFE AND PROLONGING LIFE: Consider your values, beliefs, and preferences as to the length of your
life in relation to the quality of your life, and whether you would or would not choose to prolong your life regardless of
the quality.
What “quality of life” means to you: Which of the following or other factors are important to you in considering the
quality of your life: The ability to think for yourself? Consciousness? The ability to communicate? The ability to
take care of your personal needs? Your privacy and dignity? Mobility, independence, and/or self-sufficiency? The
ability to recognize family and friends?