About 70% of pts lack decision-making capacity in their final days. Advance directives define ahead of time the level of intervention the pt is willing to accept. Two types of legal documents can be used: the advance directive, in which specific instructions from the pt may be made known; and the durable attorney for health care, in which a person is designated as having the pt's authority to make health decisions on pt's behalf. Forms are available free of charge from the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (www.nhpco.org). Physicians also should complete these forms for themselves.