CROWN POINT ESTATE PLANNING ATTORNEY
Should you become unable to communicate your wishes for health care, an advance directive will help ensure that your choices regarding your medical care are properly honored. An advance directive is your written or spoken instructions about the health care and treatment you would like to receive in the future whenever the need arises. Advance directives in the State of Indiana include:
- Conversations with physicians and family members
- Health Care Representatives
- Life-Prolonging Procedures Declarations
- Living Will Declarations
- Organ and tissue donations
- Out of Hospital Do Not Resuscitate Declaration and Orders
- Powers of Attorney
- Psychiatric advance directives
WHAT IF I DON’T HAVE AN ADVANCE DIRECTIVE?
Although they are highly recommended by medical professionals, you are not legally required to make advance directives. If you do not have an advance directive and are unable to make decisions to communicate them, Indiana law will decide who is in charge of making the decisions for you. Should you be unable to communicate your health care wishes, your physician will contact physician will need an authorized family member or court-appointed person, such as your spouse, parent or sibling to make decisions for you.
THE IMPORTANCE OF SELECTING A HEALTH CARE REPRESENTATIVE
If you are unable to make medical decisions, a designated health care representative can consent to or refuse treatments on your behalf. This individual must make decisions about artificial food, respiration and other procedures in your best interests. If you would like to name a health care representative, you must complete an Appointment of Health Care Representative with the signature of a two witnesses. It is also possible to select a health care representative with a power of attorney.
THE BENEFITS OF A LIVING WILL AND LIFE-PROLONGING PROCEDURES DECLARATION
Should you become terminally ill and unable to communicate decisions about your health care, a living will declaration and Life-Prolonging Procedures Declaration allow you to explain the care you would like to receive. A living will declaration allows you to prohibit the use of life-prolonging procedures, including artificial nutrition and hydration if your doctor certifies further treatment will not improve your terminal condition. A living will does not necessarily prohibit all life-prolonging procedures, and you will always be entitled to treatments or medications necessary to provide you with comfort, care or to alleviate pain. While much more rarely used than a Living Will, if you would like your doctors to use all available life-prolonging medical treatments or medications, you can express your wishes in a Life-Prolonging Procedures Declaration.
SEEK GUIDANCE FROM A CROWN POINT ESTATE PLANNING LAWYER
If you are interested in choosing the medical care you may need in the future, it is important to select a Crown Point estate planning attorney you can trust to advise you. With over 20 years of experience, I am well-equipped to assist you in selecting the best advance directives for your needs and advising you on Indiana law. Clients come first at Kent A. Jeffirs, Attorney at Law, PC, and you rest assured that I can select the most appropriate advance directives to meet your needs.Contact my firm to learn more about our personalized estate planning services.