Full question:
A person wants to prepare for the possibility that he might be incapable of making decisions regarding his own health care treatment at some point, and he is unsure of what options he might have. What documents can he prepare to be assured that his decisions regarding medical treatment will be followed?
- Category: Power of Attorney
- Subcategory: Health Care Declaration
- Date:
- State: Alabama
Answer:
To ensure your health care decisions are followed, you can prepare two key documents: a durable power of attorney for health care and a living will.
The durable power of attorney for health care allows you to appoint someone to make medical decisions on your behalf when you are unable to do so. This can be useful even during temporary disabilities.
A living will is a written statement that outlines your wishes regarding medical care in situations like terminal illness or permanent unconsciousness. It informs your doctors and family about your preferences for life support, food and water, nursing home placement, and other care decisions.
You can have both documents, ensuring they are consistent with your wishes. They can be separate documents or combined into one.
This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Legal statutes mentioned reflect the law at the time the content was written and may no longer be current. Always verify the latest version of the law before relying on it.