Everything You Should Know About Health Care Decision-Making While You Are Healthy
Not only does estate planning outline what happens to your assets after your death, planning methods also help make crucial medical decisions in the event in which you are not able to make these decisions by yourself. So, the time for health care decision-making is now, while you are healthy.
Health care decision-making can be much easier while your:
- Mind is clear
- Emotions are not running high
If an injury or illness makes you unconscious or paralyzed, it'll be too late. Planning ahead can ensure that your family has the power to advocate on your behalf if you need help in health care decision-making. It also ensures that your family knows your wishes. Without proper planning, there is no guarantee that your health care decisions will be made:
- The way you would want
- By the person, you would choose
Essential Purposes Of The Two Documents
You have to put your wishes in writing to make sure your wishes are carried out. This means you should execute two documents:
- A health care declaration
- A health care power of attorney
These documents are known by several different names, which can be confusing. Health care declaration can be referred to as advance directives or living wills. A health care power of attorney can be referred to as:
- Health care proxies
- Durable medical powers of attorney
- Durable powers of attorney for health care
Regardless of the many terminologies, these documents serve two essential purposes:
- To appoint someone you trust to make health care decisions on your behalf
- To guide health care providers if you are unconscious or cannot communicate
Skills For Making Wise Health Care Decisions
- Educate yourself about each option using resources like your doctor, the library, and trusted websites.
- Tell your doctor that you want to be a part of health care decision-making.
- Try on a decision.
- Make an action plan.
Top 3 Benefits Of Shared Health Care Decision-Making
- It allows people to share and discuss information.
- It allows people to make decisions about care and treatment that is right for them.
- It ensures that people fully understand the pros, cons, and possible outcomes of different options.
What is a Health Care Declaration?
A health care declaration describes your preferences for the use of life-saving medical procedures like:
- Surgery
- Pain medication
- Invasive diagnostic tests
- Artificial breathing and feeding
It also describes the situations in which these medical procedures should be withheld or used.
What is a Health Care Power of Attorney?
A health care power of attorney empowers a surrogate to make medical decisions or consent to medical treatment if you cannot. It is broader than a health care declaration, which is limited to end-of-life situations.
A health care power of attorney can allow your surrogate to make medical decisions that aren't against your living will, including:
- Consenting to medical treatment
- Placing you in a nursing home or other facility
- Discontinuing or implementing life-prolonging measures
Contact An Estate Planning Attorney
It is a great idea to have both a health care declaration and a health care power of attorney. Contact an
estate planning attorney if you've further questions about how you can plan now while you're healthy.
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