ATTORNEY GENERAL CURRAN URGES MARYLANDERS TO PLAN FOR HEALTH CARE ISSUES "BEFORE THE CRISIS"

Due to the heightened national awareness of issues about the medical treatment of seriously ill patients, Attorney General J. Joseph Curran, Jr. would like to remind all Maryland residents of their legal right to decide these matters for themselves. "Life threatening illness is a difficult subject to deal with, but it’ s also one that people of all ages face. If you plan now for what should happen after a terrible accident or during a last illness, your choices can be respected and you can relieve at least some of the burden from your loved ones," said Attorney General Curran. "If you put this off until the crisis comes, it may be too late," he added.

A Maryland law called the Health Care Decisions Act says that you can do health care planning through "advance directives." An advance directive can be used to name a health care agent, that is, someone you trust to make health care decisions for you if you cannot. An advance directive can also be used to say what your treatment preferences are, especially about treatments that might be used to sustain your life. The Health Care Decisions Act sets out two optional forms: the shorter one is titled "Living Will," the longer one is titled "Advance Directive" and it has two parts. Both forms can be completed without going to a lawyer, but if there is anything you do not understand about this important subject you may want to speak with an attorney. Two witnesses are needed, but not a notary. Once you have completed an advance directive it remains in effect unless you revoke it. It does not expire. The document should be reviewed every few years to make certain that it still reflects what you want.

The optional forms are available for free through Attorney General Curran’s website at www.oag.state.md.us or by calling the office at 410-576-7000. Curran said that, as a result of press coverage of the tragic Terri Schiavo case, requests for these documents have increased dramatically.

"If you decide to do an advance directive," Curran said, "be sure to talk about your decisions with your family or others close to you. The legal document is important, but even more important is giving those who will be there for you a clear sense of how you want end-of-life medical issues to be handled."

#