Upstate nurse practitioner and palliative care specialist Patricia Lippincott Knox, MSN, FNP, helps us understand the importance of advance directives - the planning and documents that instruct others about your medical care should you be unable to make decisions on your own - including a living will, health care proxy, and do not resuscitate order (DNR). 

Resources: Caring Connections - provides free advance directives and instructions; Advance care planning, from the NYS Department of Health; Respecting Choices