Pat Schoeni, executive director of the National Coalition on Health Care, says medical tourism likely appeals to a particular group--those who can still pay thousands for a procedure but can't afford insurance.

FORBES: Outsourcing Your Health

The Leapfrog Group, a coalition of big corporate health-care purchasers, in 2009 began asking hospitals around the nation to report their rate of early term induced births that weren't medically necessary.

WSJ: Push to Reduce Rates of Early Term Induced Deliveries

Regardless of whether people fill out Polst forms or advance directives, or both, a coalition of health-care groups says it is important for people to make some decisions about end of life wishes and to choose a surrogate who understands their wishes to step in if necessary.

WSJ: New Efforts to Simplify End-of-Life-Care Wishes