When a person is faced with a terminal illness or a chronic disease, decision-making becomes more difficult. Patients, families and physicians must attempt to balance benefits and burdens when making many health care decisions. The following are questions you can ask your health care provider if you are concerned about legal and ethical issues concerning health care decisions.

1. Do I have the right to refuse healthcare treatment?
2. Can a person elect treatments that decrease suffering, but may hasten death?
3. What if a person lacks capacity to make medical decisions?
4. How do I make sure that my preferences are adhered to, even in times of emergencies?
5. What is a Living Will? Do I need one?
6. What is a do-not-resuscitate order?
7. What is a surrogate health care decision maker called in my state? How do I appoint someone to do this for me?
8. What is informed consent?
9. Is it time for me to start talking about dying?
10. How can I be sure I will die at home?
11. How can I begin to understand my diagnosis?  It is too complicated.
12. What can I do to avoid being in pain?  I have heard about becoming addicted to pain drugs.
13. My wife also has dementia.  Does she still need pain drugs?
14. Are there any side effects from pain medications?