Will Your Health Care Wishes Be Followed?

This highly unprecedented time has put health decisions to the forefront of many people’s minds. If you or a loved one is required to be hospitalized, one of the first questions asked will be whether there is a Medical/Health Care Power of Attorney or a Living Will, otherwise known as an Advanced Directive.

The Medical or Health Care Power of Attorney allows a person to name another individual, known as the agent, to make health care decisions if you are unable to do so due to becoming incapacitated. They may also speak to your health care providers for any health care needs or services that may arise. The Living Will or Advanced Directive details what kind of life-sustaining interventions you might want if you have a terminal condition or if you fall into an irreversible coma. This type of guidance can allow for continuous family harmony when tragedy strikes.

Many states have online sources for these documents, and several states have recently passed statutes allowing digital notarization.

See Lisa Paine, Beth Cohn and Stephanie Fierro, Will Your Health Care Wishes Be Followed?, JaburgWilk.com, April 13, 2020.

Special thanks to Jim Hillhouse (Professional Legal Marketing (PLM, Inc.)) for bringing this article to my attention.