What Matters Most When Making Medical Decisions?

A conversation worksheet for patients and the people who love them

Medical decisions can be difficult, especially when two people have different concerns about what should happen next.

Each person can answer these questions separately. Then choose a comfortable time to discuss your answers. You don't need to agree on everything, and you don't have to finish the conversation in one sitting.

1. What medical decision are we facing?

2. What matters most to me as we consider this decision?

3. What worries me most about the recommended treatment or about not receiving treatment?

4. How might this decision affect the quality of life that matters to me?

5. What questions would I like the medical team to answer before a decision is made?

6. What do I wish the other person understood about how I'm feeling?

7. What kind of support would be helpful to me right now?

8. Is there anything I need more time to think about before we talk again?

After You Have Talked

What did I learn about the other person's concerns or priorities?

What questions or concerns do we still need to discuss with the medical team?

A reminder: The patient makes their own medical decisions when they have the capacity to do so. This worksheet is meant to help both people understand each other, not to persuade someone to make a particular choice.