Legal & Ethical Decisions

What kind of medical care would you want if you were too ill or hurt to express your wishes? Advance directives are legal documents that you prepare while you are medically and mentally capable and are intended to direct your care if you become unable to do so in the future. Advance directives provide a way for you to communicate your wishes to family, friends and health care professionals, and to avoid confusion later on. Advance directives can ONLY be used if you are unable to speak for yourself.

You should give a written copy of your advance directive to individuals close to you and your doctors and bring a copy anytime you come to the hospital. Our professional chaplains at the hospital are available to help guide patients through this process. Click here to download an Advance Directives form for the state of Indiana.

Durable Health Care Power of Attorney

 A Durable Health Care Power of Attorney is a legal document in which you name someone close to you to make decisions about your health care in the event you become incapacitated.

Living will

A living will is a legal document in which you state the kind of healthcare you want or don't want under certain circumstances and allows your healthcare providers to administer treatment accordingly.

For more information, contact the on-call Mishawaka Medical Center Chaplain at 574.335.2320.