Mary has recently learned about advance directives in her health information legal class. The information she has obtained, along with her knowledge of the Terri Schiavo case (2005), have convinced her of the benefits of executing an advance directive if she were to become incompetent. Mary is aware that her grandparents feel advance directives are wrong. However, she thinks they might be misinformed about the purpose and function of advance directives.
1. How should Mary go about deciding what type of advance directive is the best for her?
2. Where should she begin to prepare such a document?
3. How might she best educate her grandparents about advance directives?
4. Should she urge her friends and other family members to create advance directives?
5. Do you have an advance directive? Do your family and friends? Have you discussed it with them?