I recently went through an issue with a hospital staffer that had me worried about whether my wishes regarding blood and other medical treatment would be honored should I not be able to advocate for myself. It caused me to go ahead and update my advance medical directive so that it is very, very clear about the types of treatment I would like/not like.
Here is a link to a free template you can use. The third page (an optional one) is state-specific, but the first two pages can be used by anyone. If anyone has links to other forms, especially ones for outside the U.S., please share them.
I strongly urge you all to consider filling out an advance directive. Regardless of where you stand on the blood issue now, it's important to have this documentation. I followed the advice of a friend who is a Justice of the Peace and made three copies -- one for myself, one that a (non-JW) family member will keep, and one that a dear friend will keep. I also listed someone as my primary representative (to advocate in my place) and two additional ones should my primary not be available.


