State Bar of Wisconsin

Life Planning: Planning Ahead for Future Health Needs

Planning ahead for future medical decision-making is truly a gift to your family

• Read A Gift to Your Family consumer guide in English
• Read A Gift to Your Family consumer guide in Spanish (Un regalo para su familia)
• Order copies of A Gift to Your Family consumer guide in English
• Order copies of A Gift to Your Family consumer guide in Spanish (Un regalo para su familia)
• Suggested public education activities
• Points for writing an editorial

The State Bar of Wisconsin, the State Medical Society of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Health and Hospital Association, with support from Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center, have joined forces in a statewide public service campaign to promote future health care planning. Through our partnership we have produced a consumer guide, A Gift to Your Family: Planning Ahead for Future Health Needs, to assist you with future health care planning.

All too often, families are put in the unfortunate position of needing to make decisions about their loved ones' health care. If you have not discussed your wishes with your family or your clients, these decisions become all the more difficult.

We hope to encourage you to execute a Power of Attorney for Health Care or a Declaration to Physicians (Living Will) in a time of noncrisis, and invite you to consider organ and tissue donation as you discuss health care issues with your family.

A Gift to Your Family includes Wisconsin state forms to help you put your wishes in writing, after you have talked with your family. Your attorney, physician and other health care professionals can answer your questions and help you complete the necessary forms.