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Advocacy organization officially established to defend the rights of terminally-ill patients. The focus of the organization was directed toward legislative and educational activities. Series in collection include Board of Directors consisting of minutes, correspondence, bylaws and resolutions, and related materials; Educational/Outreach Activity consisting of subject files, newsletters, and press releases; and Legislative/Lobbying Activity which includes correspondence, copies of bills, and statements about legislation.

The records of the Michigan Medical Self-Determination Association are comprised of material documenting its eight-year history from 1984 to 1992. The collection will interest researchers examining the role of citizen groups in securing living will legislation during a nationwide medical advance directive movement. It also depicts the role such groups often play in drawing attention to legislative issues, garnering support, and influencing legislative activity.

A small, wholly volunteer organization, MMSA's energies were focused more on outreach and projects related to its purposes than on maintaining documentation of its efforts. Thus, the material is limited in scope and content.

There are three small series in the collection: Board of Directors, Educational/Outreach Activity, Legislative/ Lobbying Activity.