We carefully do an Advanced Health Care Directive setting forth our intention to prolong our life or to give legal authority to a designated individual to terminate life support under certain circumstances. This is a good start in the process. You must take a few additional steps to have a fully effective directive. First, make certain you talk with the individual designated to be your health care advocate in the event you are not able to make you own decisions. The designated individual should not “guess” your desires regarding medical treatment. Second, make certain your doctor, family members and the designated individual have a copy of the directive. Keep a copy easily accessible in the event you require hospitalization. Completing the Advanced Health Care Directive is not enough! Share it………