In South Carolina, if you are 18 years of age, you have the right to make your own healthcare decisions.  This right includes the ability to decide what medical care or treatment to accept, reject or discontinue.  The best way to make your wishes known is to discuss them with your family and your healthcare provider and execute an Advance Directive.

South Carolina law recognizes the following Advance Directives:

• Living Will
• Health Care Power of Attorney
• Five Wishes

If you have questions about signing Advance Directives, talk with your doctor, minister, priest, rabbi or other health or religious professional.  MUSC chaplains are available to help you with these healthcare decisions.

• South Carolina Advance Directives
• Printable form - Declaration of a Desire for a Natural Death*
• Printable form - Health Care Power of Attorney*

Other online resources:

• End-of-Life Decision-Making (Family Caregiver Alliance)
• Decisions About End-of-Life Care (American Medical Association)
• Advance Directives (National Cancer Institute)
• End-of-Life Care: Questions and Answers (National Cancer Institute)

*Requires the free Adobe Acrobat Reader®.