Protect Yourself And Those You Love With Health Care Directives And Powers Of Attorney
Estate planning isn’t just about what happens to your possessions once you pass away. Your plan can also include provisions that address concerns about end-of-life medical care and planning for the very real risk of incapacity (becoming unable to make or communicate decisions for yourself).
I am attorney Angela Davis-Morris. At my office, Davis-Morris Law Firm in Hattiesburg, my team and I help clients of all ages to create wills, trusts, powers of attorney, health care directives and other estate plan elements that represent and resolve their individual concerns and needs to help protect them, their future and their families.
Why Designating Power Of Attorney Is So Important
When you reach adulthood, no one can handle your business for you – including medical and financial decisions – without your specific consent. While it can be difficult to think about a time when you may be unable to make decisions for yourself, having the proper power of attorney (POA) in place will give you peace of mind. It will make things easier for others to assist you if you cannot help yourself.
If you do not have a POA designation in place and are unable to make decisions for yourself due to illness or disability, someone may need to petition the court to become your legal guardian or conservator. This process can be time-consuming, expensive and may not result in the appointment of someone you would have chosen yourself. It can even lead to disputes among family members.
With the help of a power of attorney lawyer, you can appoint someone you trust to make decisions on your behalf if you become unable to do so yourself, providing peace of mind and ensuring that your wishes are carried out without the need for court intervention.
The Benefits Of Having A Health Care Directive
You never know what may happen in the future. From illnesses to sudden accidents, it is vital that you establish a health care directive to clarify your wishes on medical interventions and your overall care.
Commonly called a living will, a health care directive also allows you to appoint someone to make medical decisions on your behalf if you lose the ability to make and communicate your own decisions. This person is known as your health care proxy. In Mississippi, anyone over the age of 18 can choose who can make medical decisions on their behalf when they cannot do so for themselves.
What Types Of Medical Decisions Can Your Health Care Directive Address?
The primary function of a health care directive is to clearly communicate your wishes regarding end-of-life situations if you become incapacitated. It allows you to let your loved ones know what you would like to happen and what you’d like to avoid. You can decide, for example:
- Whether you would like to be resuscitated using cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
- Whether you want your doctors to stop life support in certain instances
- Whether you would like to receive life support via machines or other treatment
- Specific choices on comfort medications
- Whether you’d like a religious figure (such as a chaplain) to visit you and/or deliver last rites
The medical decisions that need to be made in your later years often have life-or-death consequences, and they are rarely ever straightforward or easy. Having your wishes clearly written out can take the burden off of your family and loved ones and provide your medical providers with clear instructions about what treatments you would want. As your health care directive attorney, my goal is to empower your decision-making and take control of your end-of-life care.
Discuss Your Options During An Initial Consultation
Based in Hattiesburg, Davis-Morris Law Firm offers comprehensive estate planning solutions to clients throughout South-Central Mississippi. If you have questions or are ready to get started, contact my office today to schedule your initial consultation. Just call 601-602-8874 or reach out online.