Advance directives offer reassurance to families in crisis.

Most people know about living wills, and feel better once their wishes are made explicit in writing. Fewer know the importance of appointing a health proxy or surrogate — someone to be your medical-care advocate if you are ever incapacitated. For heart patients, having both a living will and an appointed proxy provides the most assurance that their wishes will be carried out in the event of serious illness.

Living wills and health proxies (also known as medical powers of attorney) are “advance directives”: instructions about your medical care to be used only if you can’t speak for yourself. Living wills specify patient preferences for a doctor to honor; a…

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