We hear it all the time. If something happens, I do not want to be put on life support. Unfortunately, if you do not take the proper actions now to document your wishes, it will be difficult, if not impossible, to follow your wishes if something happens and you cannot speak for yourself.
In Ohio, as in many states, you can use advance health care directives to document your health care wishes should you be unable to communicate them for yourself. Advance health care directives include a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care or a Living Will or both.
WHAT IS A DURABLE POWER OF ATTORNEY FOR HEALTH CARE?
A durable power of attorney for health care is sometimes referred to as a health care power of attorney. This document legally permits whomever you designate in the document to make health care decisions for you when you cannot make the decision for yourself. The document is in effect only when you cannot make medical decisions for yourself and does not override your intentions expressed in a living will.
WHAT IS A LIVING WILL?
A living will differs from a durable power of attorney for health care because it documents your wishes about the use of life-sustaining treatment and applies only in limited end-of-life situations such as a terminal illness or permanent state of unconsciousness. Like a durable power of attorney for health care, a living will is only in effect when you cannot communicate your health care wishes.
“Unfortunately, if you do not take the proper actions now to document your wishes, it will be difficult, if not impossible, to follow your wishes if something happens and you cannot speak for yourself.”
WE’RE HERE TO HELP
At Brunsdon Law Firm our attorneys will help you make sense of using advanced directives to express your health care wishes. Our attorney, Terri Brunsdon, will meet with you and will prepare the documents you need to express your health care wishes.
If you wish to legally document your health care directives, contact us at Brunsdon Law Firm today. You can call for an appointment at 330.374.1166. You can also send us an email at info@brunsdonlaw.com. If you choose to send an email, protect your confidentiality by not disclosing specific details about your matter.
