A Personal Decision 

The Illinois State Medical Society values the relationships that patients have with their treating physicians.  We recognize that these relationships exist for years and, in some instances, include physicians caring for generations of families.  The drafting of advance directives includes a face-to-face patient conversation with his/her treating physician of choice or rather, the physician whom the patient believes is best suited to answer questions about the his/her current health status, past medical history, and future concerns.  When elected by the patient, these conversations may also include face-to-face dialogues with family members and friends. 

ISMS has published A Personal Decision, which provides Illinois patients with practical information about determining future medical care.

The advance directives booklet includes:

• A Living Will Form
• Statutory Short Form for Power of Attorney for
  Health Care
• Illinois Official Statutory Declaration for Mental
  Health Treatment Form
• Organ Donor Card
• Uniform DNR Advance Directive Physician Orders for
  Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST)

ISMS makes copies of the brochure available to the general public at no cost. ISMS physician members may receive up to 300 free print copies per year to distribute to their patients.

Hospitals, nursing homes and other health care facilities are required to disseminate information on advance directives to all new patients, and many of these facilities use "A Personal Decision." ISMS makes special bulk orders of the brochure available to these organizations, with graduated price breaks based on quantity.

For additional information concerning ISMS' "A Personal Decision," please contact the ISMS Purchasing Department at 800-782-4767, or purchasing@isms.org.