How do we get something done before we need it, when no one really wants to talk about it? And, if we are able to talk about it, how do we get it documented in a place where we can find it, when we need it most?

I'm talking about discussions and documents pertaining to end-of-life planning. This includes assigning a medical power of attorney, filling out a living will, and documenting medical orders for life-sustaining treatments. Each of these require us to take some responsibility for our own lives and to tell those we entrust to make decisions for us about how we want to approach the end-of-life when that time comes.

In writing this, I don't aim to explore the complexities of these discussions, how to best have them or how to make sure patients speak to their proxy. My goal is to exam

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