someone in hospital bed having hand held

An advance healthcare directive is a crucial part of any estate plan. You might one day end up in a situation where you are incapacitated and cannot make medical decisions for yourself. This document can address that and save your family members from excess stress and pain. Our Washtenaw County advance healthcare directive attorneys can help you set one of these up and answer any questions that you may have.

What Does an Advance Healthcare Directive Do?

An advance healthcare directive consists of two parts. First, you have a living will. This can tell people which kinds of treatments you would want if you were incapacitated and what medical procedures or life-saving measures you would want to avoid.

Then you need to give someone your healthcare power of attorney. This empowers them to act on your behalf and make decisions in line with your wishes. You can also just designate a healthcare proxy and not make a living will, but we really recommend having both. This gives you more control and could cause less stress for the loved one who has your power of attorney.

What Kinds of Decisions Can I Address With My Advance Healthcare Directive?

You can address all kinds of treatments and other aspects of your medical care with this document. An advance healthcare directive can cover things like:

  • Mechanical ventilation
  • Tube feeding
  • Other life support methods
  • Which doctor you want to go to
  • What kinds of medications you’ll take
  • What kinds of surgical procedures you would not want to have
  • Which hospital you want to go to
  • Palliative care
  • Whether you would want to pass away at home, if possible
  • If you want to donate organs

What Happens If I Don’t Make One?

If you do not have an advance healthcare directive, your family members may argue over how you should be treated once you have been incapacitated. These fights can get ugly and often have to involve a court battle. Eventually, the court will decide who can make your healthcare decisions, but now a rift may have been caused in your family. This also might have delayed you from getting the care that you need.

When you have a directive, you stay in control. You choose what treatments you want and who you want them from. You give someone the power to enforce those wishes. Your family might still argue, but there is a legally binding document to work from here. That makes things less likely to escalate.

Contact Our Law Firm

So if you need help with your directive or any other part of your estate plan, contact Collis, Griffor & Hendra. We can help you make a comprehensive estate plan that keeps you in control, reduces the chance of family members fighting, and gives everyone extra peace of mind.

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