A crucial part of estate planning is making medical decisions in advance. You cannot always predict what is going to happen, but there is a chance you could become incapacitated or lack the ability to make these decisions yourself as you grow older. By making some of them in advance, you give your family direction at these important times.
One way to do this is by using a living will and specifically listing treatments you want or do not want. This can be a very straightforward way to avoid certain things, such as if you know you do not want to be kept on life support. But it is somewhat limited because you are just guessing about what the future holds, and you have to hope that your choices hold up when that future arrives.
Utilizing a power of attorney
A medical power of attorney is different because you do not have to make any guesses about the treatment that you would want or make any distinct decisions in advance. Rather than making choices, you are just picking someone that you want to authorize to make those decisions if they become necessary in the future. This person is known as your agent, and they are listed in your medical power of attorney.
The benefit here is that your agent will have all the necessary information at their disposal. They can talk to your doctors about your condition, your diagnosis and your prognosis for recovery. They can consider your quality of life and all available medical treatments. As long as you choose someone who you know will act with your best interests in mind, this can be an effective way to address your medical needs.
Whether you would like to use a power of attorney or a living will, doing estate planning in advance is critical, so be sure you know what legal steps to take.