I. Reality check

    A. General concerns
    B. What if it were you?
        1. How death is perceived in our society
        2. The relevance of planning for death
    C. Personal application:  An advanced directive for health care
    D. Preview:  Death in our society and a personal view on death.

II. Why even think about death?

    A. Class survey results
        1. How many know what a living will is?
        2. How many have a living will?
        3. How many want some control over their death?
    B. Death with dignity:  What is an advanced directive?
        1. Special instructions, prepared in advance, that are intended to direct medical care
            for the person if he/she becomes unable to do so
        2. Critical conditions project
    C. Myths about advanced directives
        1. A legal tool for “old” people
        2. Not legal in every state
        3. Fear of loss of control
D. What are the options?
        1. Having no plan risks possible problems
            a. Being kept on machines in a “persistent vegetative state”
            b. Family members burdened with astronomical health care costs
            c. Family members disagreeing over care you should receive
        2. Verbalize wishes:  good supplement to a written contract
        3. Written advanced directive

III. The plan

    A. My plan is to offer better information about the necessity of advanced directives
    B. Since Medicare and Medicaid are required to provide information on advanced
        directives, private insurance companies should be required to provide the same
    C. Why advanced directive?
        1. Decreased personal worry
        2. Enhanced communication between patients, families, and physicians
        3. Decreased legal costs
        4. Decreased overall health care costs
        5. Decreased feelings of helplessness and family guilt

IV. Look at it this way
    A.  Wouldn’t you like peace of mind?
    B.   My own story and the relevance of advanced directive

V. This is what you need to do.
    A.  There are varied Internet resources as well as information available at hospitals
    B.   It is not a happy subject, but we must all think about the inevitable