Declining health is a devastating experience for you to go through and for your loved ones to witness. But unfortunately, it may be an inevitable reality as your age progresses. So to not burden your loved ones with even more stress during this troubling time, you may want to give them advance notice of how your medical affairs are to be handled when the time comes. Such advance notice may be given through an official legal document; namely, an advance healthcare directive. Please continue reading to learn what orders to include in an advance healthcare directive and how an experienced Putnam County advance healthcare directive attorney at the Law Office of Andres D. Gil, PLLC can help you establish and update it as necessary.
What orders do I include in an advance healthcare directive?
Specifically, an advance healthcare directive is an estate planning document you may establish while you are still mentally competent. Here, you may appoint a trusted loved one to serve as your agent and make healthcare decisions on your behalf at a time when you become mentally incapacitated. Further, this legal document may only go into effect once you lose your ability to speak, communicate, or otherwise understand the nature and consequences of your decisions. Within this document, you may give your designated agent a reference point for their decision-making. That is, you may include the following orders:
- You may give orders as to whether you wish to receive CPR if your breathing stops or your heart stops breathing.
- You may give orders as to whether you wish to be put on a breathing machine if you can no longer breathe on your own.
- You may give orders as to whether you wish to receive a feeding tube into your vein or stomach if you can no longer feed yourself.
- You may give orders as to whether you wish to receive certain medicines or surgeries that may diminish your quality of life.
- You may give orders as to whether you wish to be an organ or tissue donor at the time of your unfortunate passing.
Is it possible to update an advance healthcare directive?
You may think you want a certain healthcare plan when it is hypothetical. However, once you find yourself in a serious health crisis, you may have a change of heart. If you are still of sound mind, you may update your advance healthcare directive right away. Importantly, it may not be enough to simply tell your treating physicians and loved ones about your newfound wishes. As a common rule of thumb, you should review this established legal document whenever you undergo a significant change in health.
Contact a skilled Putnam County estate planning attorney to gain the emotional and legal support you require during this pivotal time. Our team at the Law Office of Andres D. Gil, PLLC looks forward to helping you.