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Department of Family Social ScienceCollege of Education and Human Development

University of Minnesota
College of Education and Human Development
Department of Family Social Science

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Health Care Directive
 

The Minnesota Health Care Directive
Everyone is at risk of not being able to make their own health care decisions

A health care directive is a planning tool used to identify who you want to make decisions for you if you aren’t able, and put your preferences and wishes regarding end-of-life health care in writing. 

The Minnesota Health Care Directive:  A Planning Toolkit
To write your own health care directive, download and print A Planning Toolkit. You will need Adobe Reader.

The Planning Toolkit includes user-friendly health care directive forms that meet Minnesota’s legal requirements. These forms help you put your health care instructions/wishes in writing. They are designed to be completed by “pen or pencil” or “by hand” versus electronically. The Toolkit provides:

  • Step-by-step instructions for completing a health care directive
  • Reasons for planning ahead
  • Definitions of common terms
  • Where to keep copies
  • Myths and facts