Reasons to Have One

• Having an advanced life directive relieves stress on your friends and relatives in the event of an emergency. It also ensures that you get the type of treatment you want. In the United States, anyone 18 years old or older can have an advanced life directive.
  
  

Information to Include

• It is important that advanced life directives are written with attention to details. The document should include your wishes and specific directions for those you have put in charge of your medical decisions. The best advanced life directives give the preferred treatment depending on how severe the patient's illness is. They usually include information about treatments that the patient does not want, like being put on life support.
  
  

Distribution

• You should keep the documents associated with your advanced life directive on hand in case of an emergency. The documents should be given to the your doctor, ambulance driver and hospital in the event of a medical emergency. It is also important that your medical proxy has a copy of these documents.