What to Know about Advanced Medical Directives

 Posted on July 25, 2024 in Business Law

Advanced medical directives are part of a comprehensive estate plan. These legal documents are important in ensuring you receive the care you want and need should you be unconscious or terminally ill. Ensuring you have advanced medical directives in place helps you prepare for the future and can give you peace of mind that your care wishes will be followed.

An experienced Texas advanced medical directives lawyer can further answer your questions about advanced directives. 

What Is an Advanced Medical Directive?

An advanced medical directive is a document that outlines your wishes and expectations for end-of-life care, care in the case you are unconscious or incapacitated, or your wishes should you be terminally ill. These legal documents typically only apply when you are not able to speak or otherwise convey your choices to a doctor, family member, or loved one, and they help those around you make the correct choices for the type of medical care you receive.

There are a few different types of advanced medical directives you can utilize:

• Do-not-resuscitate orders (DNR) – These orders apply when someone decides that he or she does not want to receive life-saving treatment such as CPR or defibrillation in the case he or she stops breathing or his or her heart stops beating.

• Living wills – Also called a directive to physicians, these orders state a person’s wishes for the medical care that person wishes to receive, specific instructions for who can make decisions regarding medical care, and directions for end-of-life care. Living wills are used when a person has a terminal illness or injury that will result in death.

• Medical power of attorney (POA) – These orders allow a designated person to make medical decisions on behalf of the ill or injured person if he or she becomes incapable of doing so themselves.

• Declaration of mental health treatment – These orders outline the types of mental health treatment a person may or may not want to receive in addition to the types of treatment a person may prefer in an emergency mental health situation.

What Are the Benefits of an Advanced Medical Directive?

Advanced medical directives come with a few benefits, such as being able to express your wishes or care needs ahead of time, so you know that the medical care you receive meets your desires even when you cannot manage it yourself. This offers peace of mind, and ensures that your wishes will be followed in the case of terminal illness or a medical emergency.

Additionally, having one or more types of advanced medical directives in place helps family members and loved ones know that they are meeting your needs in an emergency medical situation, avoiding conflict over how to proceed with treatment. You can also ensure that the person making your medical decisions for you is someone that you trust and will follow your wishes.

Contact a San Antonio, TX Estate Planning Attorney

Advanced medical directives are important documents to include in your estate plan. To craft your advanced medical directives, you will need the help of a Wilson County, TX advanced medical directives lawyer.

Attorney Mayfield provides dedicated representation to every client and works with you to create an estate plan that best suits your unique needs.

Call Geoff Mayfield, Attorney at Law at 210-535-0870 for a free consultation.