Cook County Estate Planning Lawyer Assisting With Decisions About Medical Care
As you address issues related to estate planning, you may focus on what will happen after your death. However, an estate plan can also address issues related to medical treatment, including in situations where you may be terminally ill, reach an advanced age, become incapacitated, or otherwise need to make decisions about the types of care you will or will not receive. Whether you are an elderly person who wants to make sure you will be taken care of correctly, are planning to undergo major surgery that could threaten your life or leave you incapacitated, or want to address other issues related to end-of-life care, you can create advance medical directives to make sure your desires will be followed correctly.
At The Marques Eason Law Group, we will explain the different types of medical directives that you can use, and we will help you create and execute the necessary documents. By making sure you have properly considered all possibilities and advising you of your rights and options, we will provide you with the assurance that your wishes will be followed and your needs will be met.
Types of Advance Medical Directives
One of the most common advance directives is a living will, which you can use to address situations where you may become terminally ill. However, other directives can be used to address different types of situations, including:
- Power of attorney for healthcare - With this type of agreement, you can name a person who is authorized to make these decisions on your behalf in situations where you cannot make decisions on your own. Your agent may be a family member or someone else you trust, and you can give them detailed instructions about what type of treatment you do and do not want to receive. This can give you the assurance that even if you are unconscious or otherwise unable to communicate with others, you will receive the proper care according to the instructions you have set down.
- Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Order/Practitioner Orders For Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) - These orders can specify whether you want to receive CPR if you stop breathing or if your heart stops beating. They can also address what other types of life-sustaining treatment you do or do not want to receive, such as intubation and ventilation, breathing support, medications administered through an IV, or nutrition administered through a feeding tube.
- Declaration for Mental Health Treatment - If you have a mental illness and become unable to make decisions for yourself, this will allow you to decide whether you do or do not want to receive certain types of medications or electroshock therapy. You can also decide whether you may be admitted to a mental health facility for a short-term stay (up to 17 days), and you can name a person who is authorized to make decisions about these issues on your behalf.
Contact Our Beverly Advance Medical Directives Lawyer
By creating medical directives that address your unique needs, you can make sure you will be given the types of treatments you want to receive. This can help your loved ones avoid confusion about your wishes, and it can make sure you will have the proper care and comfort as you get closer to the end of your life. Our firm can help you determine the best options, and we will assist you in creating a comprehensive estate plan that will meet your and your family's needs. Contact our office at 773-973-3755to learn more about how we can help. We help individuals and families address their estate planning needs in Cook County and throughout the South Side of Chicago, including Beverly, Chicago Ridge, Matteson, Oak Lawn, Evergreen Park, and Harvey.