What Matters Most

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Before you answer questions about medical treatments, take a moment to think about what matters most to you.

The MyDirectives Advance Directive is more than a legal document. It's also a way to communicate your values, priorities, and healthcare choices so your healthcare agent and healthcare team can make decisions that reflect what's important to you if you're ever unable to communicate them for yourself. 

There are no right or wrong answers. Your choices are personal and should reflect your own beliefs, experiences, and goals.
Think About What Matters Most
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Start with Your Values
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Start with Your Values

As you complete your advance directive, think about the things that make life meaningful to you. For example:

  • What gives your life purpose or joy?
  • What abilities are most important to you?
  • What helps you feel safe, comfortable, and at peace?
  • Are there beliefs, traditions, or faith practices that should guide your healthcare?
  • What would you want your healthcare agent, loved ones, and healthcare team to know about you as a person?

Your answers don't have to be perfect. The goal is to help others understand what matters most to you—and the “why” behind the medical decisions you might make. 

Think Beyond Medical Treatments

Medical decisions are easier when they're based on what matters to you.

As you move through your advance directive, you may be asked about topics such as CPR, life-support treatments, or care at the end of life. As you think about those treatments, consider the personal values that guide your choices.

Ask yourself: 

  • What does a good quality of life mean to me?
  • Are there situations where comfort would be more important than living longer?
  • What would I want my healthcare agent to understand if they needed to make decisions on my behalf?
  • Is there anything that would bring me comfort during a serious illness?
  • Are there experiences with family members or friends that have shaped the way I think about healthcare or the end of life?
Think Beyond Medical Treatments
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Helpful Tip

There may be times when you're unsure how to answer a question—and that's okay. The goal isn't to predict every possible medical situation. It's to help others understand the values and priorities that will guide your healthcare decisions.
A Few Things to Remember
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A Few Things to Remember

  • You don't have to answer every question today.
  • Some people know exactly what they want. Others need time to reflect or talk with family and friends before making decisions. That's perfectly okay. Your advance directive is yours to complete at your own pace, and you can return to review or update it whenever your decisions change.
  • The next step is choosing a healthcare agent—someone you trust to understand your values, make healthcare decisions on your behalf, and communicate those decisions if you're ever unable to do so.
Continue to: Your Healthcare Agent
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