Wow, here it is the weekend of Independence Day 2014! Featured on the back page of the local paper is a copy of “The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America”. Foundation of our hope and dreams for “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness…”  And as I once more read this most famous of American documents, I could not help but wonder why we do not incorporate the same level of foresight into our lives from birth.  Our founding fathers prepared for us, in this Declaration of Independence, a course of action in the event of any form of Government becoming “destructive.”  They also used some weighty words that can be easily applied to advance care planning.

Is there not also an equal threat from trauma, disease or nature against our freedom, independence and well-being? Loss of freedom can take many forms. Where are the details of how our freedom is guarded with the expectation that our “unalienable rights” come with a “duty” not only of servicemen/women and public servants, but with the “prudence” of every responsible individual to look out for the comfort and safety of each other. Who of us would not “consent” to be at peace and in comfort?

Advance care planning is also a “Declaration of Independence”. This concept becomes another form of protection through which “we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.” As with any conflict in life, there are power struggles between opposite ideals.  Before one’s health succumbs to the “abdication,” it is important that we “solemnly publish and declare” what type of treatment and efforts we may or may not want.

Caring Choices respects “the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle” and the only way to accommodate compliance and overcome obstruction of our final wishes is to prepare our own declaration of independence when all other voices may fall silent. “To prove this, let Facts (your wishes) be submitted to a candid world…”

(c) 2014 Caring Choices