Patients will be encouraged and assisted to be active participants in the decision making process regarding their care through education, inquiry and assistance as requested. Patients will be encouraged to communicate their desires in regard to advance directives to their significant others and/or surrogate, to allow for guidance of significant others and/or surrogate and healthcare providers in following the patient's wishes should the patient become incapacitated, rendering them unable to make decisions. The existence of an advance directive, or lack thereof, will not determine the patient’s access to care, treatment and services. The Watkins Mill Surgery Center will always attempt to resuscitate each patient regardless of their advance directive wishes.