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Advance medical directives ensure your healthcare wishes are met

On Behalf of | Dec 14, 2021

Most people feel that meeting the needs of their families is the most important part of estate planning. However, California estate plans have plenty of room for you to address your own needs and wishes, too. In other words, you do not have to choose between what you need and what you perceive that your family needs.

Advance medical directives, for example, empower you to make your healthcare wishes known if you are too injured or ill to speak them aloud. It is one more way proper estate planning fulfills almost any need you have.

How does an advance medical directive help you?

If you have ever heard of a DNR or do not resuscitate order, you are already a little familiar with the power of an advance directive. However, you do not have to sign away your resuscitation rights unless you wish to do so. You can use your advance directive to make all sorts of decisions about your healthcare.

For example, if an illness or injury leaves you incapacitated and unable to voice your wishes, an advance medical directive empowers you to:

  •       Designate a trusted individual to make healthcare decisions on your behalf
  •       Select the medical facilities where you would like to receive treatment
  •       Choose your healthcare provider team (doctors, etc.)
  •       Consent to any treatment, care or medical service you desire
  •       Refuse any treatment, care or medical service you do not desire
  •       Consent to or refuse artificial nutrition and hydration if incapacitated
  •       State whether you desire resuscitation in life-threatening medical situations

An advance directive protects your rights in emergencies, especially if the situation takes away your ability to make on-the-spot decisions. We recommend familiarizing yourself with this and other estate planning tools available to Riverside, California, residents.