Tag Archives: health care proxy

Estate Planning

Protecting Your Medical Future

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When you are signing medical documents, it is important that you fully understand what you are agreeing to and the consequences that will result. Two of the documents that are important to consider in protecting your medical care in the future are an Advanced Health Care Directive, and a Do Not Resuscitate Order (DNR)

DNR

Many people do not want to be kept alive under certain circumstances, such as if they are being kept alive solely by machines. A DNR provides your instructions to health care providers that you do not want heroic measures, such as cardiac compression, defibrillation and artificial ventilation, to be used to resuscitate you or keep you alive. A DNR should only be used when you are close to death, and must be signed by a physician. An elderly person who is otherwise healthy and active, should not sign a DNR which would prohibit emergency providers from restoring life in an accident or other health care event.

Health Care Directive

You can appoint another individual to act as a health care agent to make medical decisions on your behalf if you are unable to do so for yourself. Your Advanced Health Care Directive can also give your agent authority to review your medical records. It is crucial that you provide the person you appointed to serve as your agent, your primary doctor and your lawyer with a copy of your health care documents. The Advanced Health Care Directive also allows you to give end of life care instructions if you have a health care event where you are unlikely to survive or recover, or you have a disease which leads to death and you are in the last stages of that disease.

Your Utah Advanced Health Care Directive should include your name, telephone and address and the name, telephone and address of the individual you are appointing as your agent, the name and similar information for an alternate agent, the power and authority being granted to the agent, your signature and witnesses. Having your medical documents witnessed is necessary to establish that you signed the document willingly and that you were of sound mind.

If you are interested in learning more about how to properly plan for your future medical care and end of life decisions, contact us to schedule an appointment.

The Astill Law Office has provided high quality legal services for over 30 years. We specialize in wills, trusts, estate planning, and asset protection. If you have any questions about creating a Trust, Will, or estate planning in general, contact The Astill Law Office at 801-438-8698.

Estate Planning

Ensuring You are Cared for in your Senior Years

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In recent years, it has become more common for couples to decide not to have children. If this is the decision you have made, the question arises as to who will care for you in your senior years. While there is never a guarantee that having children will mean that they will care for you when you are in need, it is often expected that children will play some role in providing your care. With childless couples, it is important to understand that you have an even greater need to plan for your future care.

It is important for all individuals to have a healthcare proxy or healthcare agent, but even more so for childless people. A healthcare proxy permits another individual to view your medical records and make any necessary medical decisions on your behalf. Appointing a healthcare proxy involves a fairly simple and inexpensive document to be completed, which is surprising when you consider the amount of protection it affords to you.

When naming your healthcare agent, it is important to select somebody you trust and who has a comprehensive understanding of your wishes. You are not allowed to appoint your physician, nurse, social worker, or an owner of a health care facility where you are being cared for. The only exception to this general rule is if you are related to the individual by blood, marriage or adoption.

Other considerations for childless individuals are whether to purchase long-term care insurance. Having this type of policy can help ensure that you can afford the type of care you want when your health begins to decline. Additionally, childless couples should create an estate plan that sets forth how their assets will be distributed upon their death. Many of our clients who have no children favor charitable gifts. You can only accomplish this with a proper estate plan.

The Astill Law Office has provided high quality legal services for over 30 years. We specialize in wills, trusts, estate planning, and asset protection. If you have any questions about creating a Trust, Will, or estate planning in general, contact The Astill Law Office at 801-438-8698.