Making Medical Decisions in Advance

Fern Baudo, Author of If I Only Knew

“Oh my family knows what I want if something happens to me”...Do they really?

Simply signing the Living Will and the Health Care Proxy document in your attorney’s office is plainly not enough.  How will your chosen Health Care Agent even know you asked them to act on your behalf?  How will your chosen Health Care Agent even know what you want?

I have heard this time and time again.  “I think my family knows what I want if I can’t talk for myself.”  I nod and ask, “how do they know?” If you don’t share your wishes for care in a time that you may not be able to make decisions for yourself, how will your family know what you want? 

Do they just know? 

Not really. 

So many times I have had family members crying on my shoulders asking me, “what should I do?”, “what would you do?” 

How can we prevent these tragedies? 

By having a discussion about medical decisions.  Having a discussion about values and beliefs with our chosen Health Care Agent as well as family and loved ones about the following:  The life extending measures that you would want and discussing measures that you would decline regardless of the consequences. 

For a family member or someone who is acting as your spokesperson, it is easier to make a case about a medical decision if you know what the person wants and why the person wants or chooses to decline a particular treatment. 

Having this conversation is difficult.  No one wants to consider this.

In Fern Baudo's book, If I Only Knew, provides a guide to understanding the legal documents, the medical documents and options on how to start the conversation about Advance Care Planning.  A topic no one wants to talk about but is now an essential talk to have. 

If I Only Knew  is available on Kindle, ibooks, nook and is expected to be in print mid-February 2015.

If I Only Knew is for everyone who wants to be prepared, loves someone, and needs peace of mind. If I Only Knew lays out the importance of making medical decisions in advance. While at first reaction most are resistant to the idea of thinking about end of life care this book reinforces why we must not only consider but discuss our wishes with people we love and that love us.

Fern Baudo  is an experienced Advance Practice Registered Nurse with a diverse nursing background. Her passion is advanced care planning as this has been a personal and professional journey for her.

Click Here to Learn More - If I Only Knew

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Meet the author tonight, Tuesday, February 10, 2015 from 6-8pm at The Bristal at East Meadow 40 Merrick Avenue, East Meadow, NY 11554 - Click here for more information