What happens if you are sick or injured and unable to communicate your medical wishes to your doctor? That is where a living will comes in. Known also as advance medical directives, these documents allow for your wishes to be met even if you are unable to communicate them.
When Does a Living Will Take Effect?
State laws dictate when a living will can take effect. Your legal representative can inform you of these conditions when you are setting up your living will. They will have the expertise in helping you navigate the healthcare laws.
Can a Living Will be up to Interpretation?
Yes, doctors and other medical staff can choose to interpret your living will and come to different conclusions than you might have. While doctors will take a patient’s wishes into consideration and attempt to follow them, they may not interpret your directives the same way as you would. This is where a health-care agent can help.
What is Medical Power of Attorney?
While a living will can cover some cases, it may not be able to cover them all; this is where a health-care agent comes into play. This is a person that you appoint who has the knowledge and legal authority to make decisions for you. You want this to be a person who is capable of understanding medical information as well as knowing what your wishes are and how to follow them.
