Living Wills & Healthcare Surrogate
Americans are living longer and longer which presents people with many opportunities, but also presents new challenges. These challenges involve questions of quality of life issues that simply were not possible even a generation ago. It is increasingly important for families to have living wills and health care surrogates to ensure that their medical wishes are carried out should they become incapacitated and unable to make their own decisions.
A living will lays out exactly what should be done in certain health care situations. Living wills are legal documents that set forth advanced directives for health care practitioners and families. For instance, some people may not want life prolonging measures to be taken if they have a terminal illness, an end stage condition, or are in a persistent vegetative state, when such measures serve only to artificially prolong the dying process. In other words, you may wish to be permitted to die naturally and only have medical measures necessary to provide comfort care or to alleviate pain. Others may want any and all measures taken to keep them alive for as long as possible. This document will very clearly direct health care providers on the level of care desired. A living will can help prevent disputes amongst family members, especially when it comes time to end care and perhaps end a life. These decisions can permanently divide even the strongest of families. A Florida Estate Planning Attorney can help draft such a document, ensuring you are protected should a tragedy arise.
A health care surrogate appoints an agent to make health care decisions on behalf of the incapacitated person. This is extremely important to have a person to make prompt and immediate medical decisions for you when you are incapable of doing so. Appointing a health care surrogate will help assure you receive medical treatment without undue delay.
While these documents are important for the drafter, they are more important for that person’s loved ones. In a medical emergency, a family can be secure in knowing that medical treatment will not be withheld for lack of authorization, or in the event of a tragedy, they are following their loved one’s wishes regarding life prolonging procedures. This can help them make peace quicker should a loved one pass and help prevent disputes over health care. By laying out exactly what should be done and exactly who should make these decisions, a family can experience closure much sooner and make peace with a bad situation.
At Sperry Law Firm, our clients are our top priority. For more than 30 years, Bruce J. Sperry has provided quality legal representation related to advanced directives. The attorneys at Sperry Law Firm understand the needs of residents of Plant City and the Greater Tampa Bay Area, as well as those throughout the State of Florida. The goal of Sperry Law Firm is to build an attorney-client relationship built on a solid foundation of trust. This trust is established through client communication. Here, each client is treated individually and their legal matter is given the attention it deserves. You will always receive prompt attention and will always be kept informed on how your matter is proceeding.