Legal & Ethical Decisions
An advance directive is a written document in which you specify the type of medical care you want in the event that you lose the ability to make decisions or are unable to communicate them. An advance directive is an important tool that helps ensure that your wishes are honored, and can provide peace of mind for those making decisions, knowing the choices they make are guided by your expressed desires.
Under Michigan law, you may express your desires ahead of time and choose to assign another person—a family member or friend, for example—to make these decisions for you in conformity with your desires. This is done by executing a document called a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care (DPOA).
To prepare a DPOA, you can consult an attorney or prepare it yourself.
For further information, you may contact:
At DMC Children’s Hospital of Michigan
- Department of Social Work: (313) 745-4263
At DMC Detroit Receiving Hospital/ University Health Center
- Department of Clinical Resource Management: (313) 745-4626
At DMC Harper University Hospital
- Department of Customer Service: (313) 745-4800
At DMC Huron Valley-Sinai Hospital
- Department of Customer Service: (248) 937-3344
At DMC Hutzel Women’s Hospital
- Department of Customer Service: (313) 745-4800
At DMC Rehabilitation Hospital of Michigan
- Department of Customer Service: (313) 745-9850
At DMC Sinai-Grace Hospital
- Department of Social Work: (313) 966-3234