One of the key documents in basic estate planning is an advance directive.
This documents does two things:
- It appoints a representative to make health care decisions for you if you are incapacitated; and
- Gives the agent instructions as to your wishes about medical treatment, including end of life treatment.
Individuals have a right to control their own health care, including the providing or withholding of life saving medical treatment. The advance directive allows you to consider these issues while competent and write them down.
The advance directive can be as simple or as complex as needed. Many people choose only to authorize the withholding of life sustaining treatment if their doctor opines that they are unlikely to recover from their current medical condition. Others want to control whether they will receive nutrition, hydration, or pain medication under certain circumstances. Making some of these decisions in advance and writing them down can help loved ones make decisions on your behalf when you can’t speak for yourself.