Advanced healthcare directives (also called living wills) are integral to planning for your care, should anything ever happen that causes you to be incapable of making healthcare decisions for yourself.
An advanced healthcare directive is a document that outlines your wishes for the kind of care and medical intervention that you want (or specifically do not want) if you become terminally ill or find yourself in need of life-support but are unable to speak or otherwise communicate, as could be the case if you fall into a coma.
Removing Uncertainty and Guilt – Take a moment to consider your loved ones deliberating over whether you would choose to live or die. Imagine them thinking and talking about life support decisions. Imagine the feelings that would overcome them during those discussions and the guilt they might feel. Now, realize that such conversations need never occur. By implementing an Advanced Healthcare Directive, you can express your wishes in advance and keep your loved ones from ever having to feel responsible or guilty for making what is essentially a very personal choice—a choice that only you can authentically make.
A Healthcare Agent – Decisions expressed in advanced healthcare directives are generally taken very seriously and respected by medical professionals and the legal system. A healthcare agent is a person who is authorized to act on your behalf if you are legally incapacitated.
Healthcare agents are appointed via advanced healthcare directives. Deciding who you trust with your life and death choices could be the most important decision you ever make. And once the choice is made, it’s critical that you and your agent have as many conversations as necessary to make your wishes absolutely clear. There is no room for uncertainty here.
When choosing a healthcare agent, remember that your designated decision-maker needs to be capable of three things: Understanding critical medical information about your condition and treatment, handling stress associated with difficult decisions, and respecting and honoring your wishes.
Let’s Talk it Over – If you’d like to learn more about advanced healthcare directives and estate planning, call our office today to schedule a time for us to sit down and talk. Call today and mention this article to schedule a complete Family Wealth Planning Session at no charge.
For more information about Lisa S. Golshani’s services, call 661-362-0770.