Advanced Directives
Licensed Social Worker – Chris Pieper, 218-634-3450

Advanced directives are documents that detail all your preferred healthcare choices.  These choices include what medical treatments you do or do not want during an emergency.  An advance directive can help your family and physicians make decisions that are faced on a daily bases, as well as bigger, end-of-life decisions.

Planning Ahead in Minnesota

The state of Minnesota recognizes advance healthcare directives, but they must:
• Be in writing and dated
• Be signed by the patient at a time when he or she can understand his or her medical desires
• Be verified by a notary public or two witnesses
• Include the appointment of an agent to make healthcare decisions for the patient and/or instructions about healthcare choices the patient wishes to make

Consider discussing what to include in your directive with your medical provider or a social worker.