For critical documents need to be in place before they are needed and are (1) Powers of Attorney, (2) Living Wills, (3) Medical Powers of Attorney, (4) Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Orders and (5) Anatomical Gifts and a (6) one that has recently come along the Out-of-Hospital DNR Orders.  Numbers (4) and (6) deal with orders to NOT resuscitate – one for in the hospital and the other out-of-hospital.  Each one of these will be discussed in detail in upcoming blogs.  These all need to be put in place LONG BEFORE THEY ARE ACTUALLY NEEDED!