Ensuring Peace of Mind: The Benefits of Advance Medical Directives in Estate Planning

Nobody likes to think about what will happen at the end of their life. Yet, making decisions about the future is very important, both to you and your loved ones. Planning ahead allows you the opportunity to ensure that you receive the care you desire and provides information that your doctors, caregivers, and relatives can use for your treatment. Advance medical directives are essential in every estate plan, regardless of your age. An experienced estate planning attorney will assist you with creating a legal document that will give you and your family peace of mind. 

What is an Advance Medical Directive?

An advance medical directive, also known as a living will, is a document that gives healthcare providers information regarding treatment. It is used in situations where you are incapacitated and unable to express your wishes at the time. An advance medical directive is something you put in place ahead of time, and it serves as a guide for your care if and when it is needed. 

The purpose of an advance medical directive is to provide instructions to doctors and loved ones when you are unable to do so. For example, if you become incapacitated, the doctors will still be able to follow your wishes as you stated in an advance healthcare directive. You put the directive in place, typically as part of a comprehensive estate plan. A knowledgeable attorney will assist you with your advance medical directive. 

Benefits of Advance Medical Directives

An advanced medical directive offers many benefits, both to you and to your loved ones. If you become ill and are unable to make or voice decisions about your care, your medical directive will provide those answers to your doctors and relatives. 

Reduces Burden on Your Family

One of the most important advantages of advanced care planning is that it reduces the burden on your family. When you are going through a difficult medical situation, your loved ones are already feeling emotional and stressed. The burden of having to make medical decisions on your behalf can be overwhelming. Having a medical directive lets your family know your preferences and will be able to better handle the issues that come up in regard to your medical care. 

Clarifies Your Wishes

Putting a medical directive in place gives you the ability to make your wishes known. Your doctors and others will know exactly what your intentions are when it comes to your medical treatment. The more precise the directive is, the better it addresses your requests. For example, if you do not wish to be resuscitated during a medical emergency, you can include that in your medical directive. Use a medical directive to spell out exactly the treatment you prefer in a variety of medical situations that you may encounter. 

Makes Decisions Less Complicated

Your loved ones are under tremendous pressure to make choices about your medical care when you are unable to do so for yourself. Sometimes, doctors must make numerous decisions on a daily basis. You can eliminate some of the stress by providing instructions in your advance medical directive. Doctors will know exactly how to handle a variety of medical treatments and, therefore, will not have to turn to your family to make every minor decision along the way. 

Lessens Risk of Misunderstandings

The last thing you want when you are seriously hurt or ill is to have people misunderstand what care you expect. An advance medical directive will eliminate the possibility of misunderstandings because your specific expectations are outlined in writing. The doctors and other members of your healthcare team will have full knowledge of the care they should provide and exactly what you would have requested if you were able to voice your needs.

Avoids Unwanted Treatments

Some types of treatments are optional and depend on the wishes of the patient. A medical directive will prevent you from having unwanted medical care. You can list the medical care you want in a variety of situations so you won’t receive any type of treatment that you would not approve of getting. Your medical team and caregivers will be aware of your desires in the same way as if you were available to give them an immediate answer.

Ensures Peace of Mind

Most importantly, an advanced medical directive gives you and your loved ones peace of mind. You will be assured that your relatives will do what you wish. Your doctors and caregivers will know that they are making choices based on your wishes, which will take away the stress they may otherwise feel. Making medical decisions for others is never easy and can cause a lot of stress and turmoil. A loved one may feel unsure of whether they made the right medical choices on their own. An advance directive allows your family to have a clear conscience, knowing they did the right thing.

Putting an Advance Medical Directive In Place

An advance medical directive or living will is a necessary part of an estate plan. A skilled attorney will assist you in putting an advance medical directive in place. There are a number of issues that you can address with this type of legal document. The more information you put in the directive, the better able doctors will be able to follow your wishes. The medical directive isn’t just for the elderly. A person of any age should review and address the medical treatment they may need in various situations, even if they are not currently facing any medical problems. 

Don’t put off creating an estate plan with an advance medical directive. The best time to review these matters is when you are well and of sound mind. Let your family members know your wishes when you put the directive in place. To learn more about estate planning and advance medical directives, contact our legal team at View Ridge Family Law & Estate Planning at (206) 502-4748 to schedule a consultation.