Why Have Advance Directives?
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Thanks to the advances in medical science, people are living longer than ever before. As we grow older, we may find ourselves in a position where decisions need to be made about our care.
If we are in a condition where we cannot express our preferences about treatment, decisions will be made for us by others if we have not planned for our own treatment in advance. Advance healthcare directives allow us to deal with these situations.
An advance directive is a legal document that informs and explains, in writing, your choices about the medical treatments you want or do not want. It also details who will make healthcare decisions for you if you become incapacitated and cannot communicate your wishes.
These documents tell your health care team and loved ones what kind of health care you want. It forces you to think in advance about what type of care you want when you are not able to communicate that in person.
Once you have discussed your medical wishes with your family and you create the document with your lawyer, make sure to provide your family with a copy. Send a copy to your primary doctor, as well as any specialists you see. Always bring a copy to any healthcare facility when you are having surgery or a medical procedure.
Advance directives only cover health care decisions and do not affect money matters. Talk to your lawyer about filling out your advance directive when you are still healthy, in case you become too ill or are unable to make medical decisions for yourself in the future.
Learn more about Healthcare Directives here.
Kevin Miller is available to help you create an advance directive and guide you through the estate planning process. It is important that you make creating an advance directive a priority. It will make things much easier for your family should you find yourself in a hospital and are unable to communicate your wishes. Kevin Miller has extensive experience in wills, probate, advance directives and estate planning and will put your interests first.
If you have further questions, or are ready to get started on your will, contact us through the website, or by calling 405-443-5100.
We are here to help.