No one can predict the future. You can, however, create a plan for the future to protect yourself and your family in case of medical emergencies.
Advance health care directives allow an individual to clearly dictate his or her wishes for medical care and treatment options, should he or she become incapacitated. These directives are also known as living wills or personal directives.
Types of advance health care directives in Pennsylvania?
There are two types of health care directives people often use in Pennsylvania. They include:
- Living wills: Also known as a physician’s directive, a living will provides specific instructions regarding life-sustaining treatment. It can also outline medical care preferences in the event you suffer a terminal condition or permanent unconscious state.
- Health care power of attorneys: Also known as a health care agent, a health care POA can let you appoint a trusted individual to make medical decisions on your behalf. While similar to a living will, a health care power of attorney can offer broader decision-making power.
In Pennsylvania, combining these documents into a single, comprehensive directive can provide thorough coverage of your health care and medical preferences.
What’s included in an advance health care directive?
Most health care directives have several important components. Those components can include:
- A designated health care agent: This is typically an individual you appoint to make medical decisions on your behalf if you become incapacitated.
- Medical treatment preferences: These preferences can provide instructions regarding specific life-sustaining treatments that you would or would not want, such as ventilators or feeding tubes.
- Pain management and comfort care: This can allow you to state your preferences for comfort care, even if it may shorten your life.
- Organ donation and other wishes: This can include preferences for organ donation, funeral arrangements and other personal matters upon your death.
- HIPAA authorization: This can grant your health care agent access to your private medical information. That way, they have the information they need to make informed decisions on your behalf.
No matter which of these elements you choose to include, having a tailored health care directive can help you make sure your medical wishes and instructions can get carried out by people you trust.
Living wills and plans for medical emergencies – make sure your wishes are followed
At Newman Williams, P.C., our attorneys assist clients throughout Pennsylvania in creating advance health care directives that are tailored to their needs and wishes. We take into account family dynamics and existing health care conditions.
If you wish to prepare for the future and any emergencies that could arise, please contact our Stroudsburg law offices today for a free consultation. Call us at 570-559-5507.
Our lawyers take the time to sit down with each client and craft a health care directive that addresses all types of emergencies and potential end-of-life scenarios. Living wills are often accompanied by establishing a power of attorney. This allows the individual to grant one person the authority to make medical decisions on his or her behalf in case of incapacity. The power of attorney must abide by the details of the health care directive or living will.
These vehicles are essential components of a comprehensive estate plan. No matter what your situation or your estate, it is important that you have a legal plan in place that will protect your interests and your family. We are committed to providing you with the legal representation you need during the planning process.
