Self-Advocacy Tools

Medical Decision-Making

If you, a family member, or friend has a life-threatening or serious chronic illness, you are likely facing many health care related decisions. The following resources may help.

General Decision-Making

  • Giller, M.D., Ph.D., Cole (2004). Port In The Storm: How To Make A Medical Decision And Live To Tell About It. Washington, D.C.: Lifeline Press. This book provides practical, easy to digest guidance to medical decision making. By breaking the process into six steps, and introducing principles that shape decision-making, this book proves a helpful guide.
  • American Cancer Society, Making Informed Decisions: A helpful guide which addresses questions from a patient's perspective such as "Is there time to gather additional information?"; "How do I find additional information?" and "How do I tell family, friends and my children?"
  • National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship, Cancer Survival Toolbox, Making Decisions Module: This audio module is part of a series created by NCCS. According to NCCS: "Making Decisions means being able to identify how you make decisions, how your style of decision making can work or be improved, and how you can weigh the pros and cons of deciding about cancer treatment."
  • American Cancer Society - Treatment Decision Tools These NexProfiler Treatment Option Tools, may be able to help you make an informed decision about your treatment. They provide detailed analysis specific cancer conditions (listed on the site), including statistical breakdowns of treatment types, to guide a patient to topics to discuss with health care providers.
  • American Health Care Association - A Guide for Families Having Conversations about Long Term Care

Informed Consent

  • American Cancer Society - Informed Consent : A thorough explanation of informed consent: What is it, what it involves who can provide it, what detail can be expected and questions to ask during the informed consent process?

Advanced Directives

  • American Cancer Society - FAQ's : Answers to important treatment questions concerning life sustaining medical treatment, advance care health directives, living wills and health care power of attorney documents.
  • A Gift to Your Family: Planning Ahead for Future Health Needs: A user-friendly booklet including Power of Attorney for Health Care and Living Will forms for Wisconsin residents. This booklet helps you consider preferences for treatment, state your wishes, and designate a decision maker when you are unable to decide on your own behalf. Available for order from the State Bar of Wisconsin. Only $4.50.

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