 These medical treatment preference documents are critical - especially for the elderly for whom resuscitation by emergency responders (EMTs) may cause painful and/or life-threatening injuries.Without these documents to guide the emergency responder - patients must understand that EMTs are trained to automatically administer a full range of emergency life saving measures.For many patients such measures may be a wonderful blessing; for others who are elderly or frail or in very poor health - these same measures may be a curse.