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Daniel P. Sulmasy’s article “The Last Word,” from the November 26 issue outlines the Catholic case for advance directives. For more information on composing advance directives, explore the links below. Note that the legal rules regarding these documents vary from state to state.

The Catholic Health Association provides this pdf brochure that answers common questions and concerns about advance directives.

This pdf workbook from the Center for Practical Bioethics includes a questionnaire designed to start a conversation about advance directives.

Caring Connections provides links to instructions for advance directives broken down by state.

Aging with Dignity offers a popular approach to composing directives called “Five Wishes.” A preview of “Five Wishes” is available as a pdf download.

This article appears in November 29 2010.

Tim Reidy joined America’s staff in October 2006 and served as online editor for several years before moving into his current role as the deputy editor in chief. Tim oversees America’s newsroom, directing its daily news coverage as well as working with the editorial leadership team to plan each print issue. Tim also edits the magazine’s Ideas section, where he contributes book reviews and essays. Before joining America, he worked at the Hartford Courant, a newspaper in Connecticut, and Commonweal magazine. In addition to writing for America, he has contributed to The New York Times, the Columbia Journalism Review and the Princeton Alumni Weekly. He has been interviewed about the Catholic Church on WNYC in New York, ABC, Bloomberg TV and other media outlets. Tim also serves on the board of directors of Jesuit Refugee Service USA. He lives in Bronxville, N.Y., with his wife and two children.