The rapid pace of advances in medical care allows us to live longer and more productive lives than those of our ancestors. But these same innovations can leave us struggling for guidance when we are confronted with end-of-life decisions.
Just as important, however, is the conversation we all need to have with our families: Who will carry out my end-of-life health care plans if I am not able to?
To help with these questions, the Catholic Conference of Illinois has updated its guidance on using advance directives in its new booklet, "End-of-Life Conversations: A Catholic Perspective on Advance Directives."
Advance directives are legal forms that outline our wishes regarding medical treatments we may or may not want as we grow older or are in an accident and cannot speak for ourselves. The new booklet summarizes the need for an advance directive, including the process of picking an agent to speak on your behalf.
The state of Illinois on Jan. 1, 2016, updated its health care power of attorney form, and CCI supplements that form with suggestions Catholics may want to consider. This updated form with Catholic suggestions is printed in the final section of the booklet for the reader's personal use.
Download a FREE copy of "End of Life Conversations: A Catholic Perspective on Advance Directives." You may also download a FREE copy of the booklet in Spanish and in Polish. The booklet conveniently downloads onto 8.5" x 11" paper when you check the "fit to page" box.
The full-color booklet is also available for purchase from the Catholic Conference of Illinois, in each of the three languages, for a nominal fee. Contact us at info@ilcatholic.org, our Chicago office at (312) 368-1066, or our Springfield office at (217) 528-9200 for ordering information.
NOTE: All three versions of the booklet offer the form in English, since our lawyers advise individuals to fill out the form in English to ensure that their wishes are followed. Read the form here in Español, and here in Polskie, but for informational purposes only.