Upon being admitted to a hospital you may be asked to fill out a health care proxy form. This is particularly true if you are admitted for a condition that a doctor feels might put you in a position where you are not able to make health care decisions for yourself. These documents can give another person the power to make critical healthcare decisions for you such as:

  • Details of the types of care you do not want should you become brain dead, incapacitated or have no hope of recovery due to illness
  • The types of life support you wish to have should you become vegetative
  • Your wishes as far as organ donation or donating your body to science
  • Funeral wishes such as cremation or burial
  • When lifesaving attempts should be stopped and the administration of comfort measures such as pain medications should begin
  • Who your designated HIPPA representatives are so that they may be given healthcare information legally
  • Extreme treatment measures that you may or may not wish depending on your condition

One thing to be aware of is that signing this document may override any other legal documents that you have in place for specific power of medical attorney. If you have taken the time to prepare these documents, do not overwrite them with less detailed ones.

If you don’t have medical power of attorney or a living will, the legal experts at Stano Law Group can help you draw them up. Contact us today.