The encouragement to complete an advance directive, above, is increasingly important. A recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine (content.nejm.org/cgi/content/short/362/13/1211) emphasized that advance directives are indeed effective in ensuring that one's wishes are honored. Many studies also indicate that the more detailed and complete your advance directive, the more likely your wishes will be followed. One comprehensive directive is the Lifecare Advance Directive (see: www.LifecareDirectives.com). The site also offers free state-standard advance directives for immediate download, as well (see: http://www.lifecaredirectives.com/statutory.html). Another popular advance directive is the Five Wishes living will (see: www.agingwithdignity.org/five-wishes.php). The Center for Practical Bioethics also offers a useful planning workbook (see: www.practicalbioethics.org/cpb.aspx?pgID=986). Readers might want to explore these available documents further. Regardless of the forms you choose, everyone should make sure that their wishes are well documented and clearly spelled out. As the recent study shows, doing so can save a great deal of unnecessary suffering and greatly reduce the burdens that families experience at these very difficult times, as well.