Advance Health Care Directive

One of the benefits of estate planning is being able to stipulate an advance health care directive. The major aspect of this "living will" is being able to decide which life-prolonging measures you would like to use, if any. Other medical decisions you can make are in regards to special treatments, diagnostic testing, surgical procedures, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and organ donation. By deciding this early, you are relieving your family of the burden of guessing what you would prefer should you become ill.

It could be beneficial to speak with your physician when estate planning as they could help you think ahead and decide now what health care you would like to receive. Also, you could get input from your family as to whether you would be more comfortable in a nursing home, hospital, or home should you be unable to take care of yourself.

Although each state is different, you most likely will have to fill out an advance care directive form. A plan allows you to designate a person to carry out your wishes, called a power of attorney for health care. The power of attorney is someone you trust to make health care decisions if you are unable to.

This health care directive or living will comes into effect when your physician decides that you do not have the ability or capacity to properly make medical decisions for yourself. If you are unable to understand what is going on or unable to communicate, your power of attorney will step in to help.

An advance health care directive will remain in effect as long as you are alive. You are able to revoke this document, but make sure that you notify your physician and power of attorney of your decision. The court may revoke the document if they believe that it is not valid. They may also remove authority from your power of attorney if they believe he or she is not acting according to your wishes or in your best interests.