Dear Editor:

Gov. Strickland has declared Oct. 11-17 as “Living Today, Planning for Tomorrow Week” as a way to promote the use of advance directives such as living wills and durable power of attorneys for health care.

A living will is a document that tells your doctor or other healthcare providers whether or not you would want life-sustaining treatments or procedures if you are in a terminal condition or a permanently unconscious state.

A durable power of attorney allows you to appoint another person to make medical decisions for you if you should become temporarily or permanently unable to make those decisions yourself.

The documents are termed “advance” directives, because they are signed in advance to let your doctor and others know your wishes concerning medical treatment.

If you are interested in obtaining these documents you can contact the O’Bleness Memorial Hospital social workers, Alice Hawthorne at (740) 592-9337 or Channing Olbers at (740) 592-9368.

Alice Hawthorne

Director Social Services

O’Bleness Memorial Hospital