Decide Together

Even when you are healthy, it is a good idea to think about what kind of care you would want if you became critically ill. Critical illness threatens a patient’s life so that they are near death. When a critically ill patient is not capable of making decisions, a family member called a substitute decision-maker may be asked to make decisions for them. Patients and their family members have the right to participate in decisions about the care they receive in hospital.

This conversation will help you and your family members understand and consider the care options for the critically ill patient. This will help you share your views with other family members and the health care team.

Make sure you discuss your wishes with your healthcare team. The healthcare team will plan care options based on the decisions you make together. Since your wishes might change as new information becomes available, think of this as a process as an ongoing conversation between you, your family and your health care team.

Together a decision can be made.