Health Care Directives
01. Who Speaks for You
Health Care Directives
Health Care Directives are the broad characterization of what can be several documents relating to an individual’s health care choices. Most notably, these include healthcare powers of attorney and advance directives or living wills.
As with durable powers of attorney, healthcare powers of attorney allow you (the principal) to designate an agent (the healthcare attorney-in-fact) to make medical decisions when you cannot make them on your own — either because of a lack of capacity or inability to effectively communicate those decisions on your own. The types of decisions your health care attorney-in-fact can make for you are very broad — consents to surgery, X-rays, admission or discharge, type of treatment, mental health and even electro-shock treatment. Of course, you have the ability to limit, define or impose limitations on your attorney-in-fact’s ability to act — if you have executed a health care power of attorney.
02. Your Voice When It Matters Most
Advance Directives and Living Wills
Health Care Directives also cover advance directives or living wills, in which you are able to state what kind of medical care or withholding or withdrawal of medical care you want in the event of a terminal illness, lack of consciousness or severe cognitive deficit. Many people are familiar with the case of Terri Schiavo in Florida and the lengthy debate between her parents and husband over the withdrawal of life-prolonging measures. The Advance Directive is designed to avoid such scenarios by establishing an individual’s personal preference for such treatment (or withdrawal of treatment) while they have the ability to formulate their own opinions on the matter.
03. We’ll Walk You Through It
Guidance from Sodoma Law's Estate Planning Attorneys
Health Care Directives are an important part of the estate planning process. Sodoma Law’s Estate Planning attorneys will walk you through the process of selecting your agents and identifying the choices (and limitations) you want regarding your health care decisions.
Contact our estate planning attorneys today by filling out the form below, or use the menu to the right for more information on our specific estate planning services.
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