When you establish an estate plan, you may feel relieved knowing your assets and loved ones will be taken care of. However, there may be one important thing you forgot to plan for – yourself! Unfortunately, many do not establish one of the most crucial documents, which is an Advance Healthcare Directive. Doing this is vital to ensure you receive the care you need. The following blog explores how these work, what a Healthcare Proxy is, and why you need a Medina County, Ohio Advance Healthcare Directive lawyer to help you establish the care you need.
What Is a Healthcare Proxy?
A Healthcare Proxy, officially referred to as an Advance Healthcare Directive in Ohio, you must understand why you should establish this document. This allows you to list your medical wishes. For example, if you have strong personal or religious beliefs about specific medical procedures, you can write down that you do not consent to these forms of treatment. Additionally, you can write down what forms of treatment you wish to receive.
Similarly, you can appoint someone to act on your behalf in the event you become incapacitated and unable to do so yourself. For example, if you are placed in a medically induced coma, you will not be able to communicate your wishes for care. Without a Healthcare Proxy, the doctors must follow the next of kin line, who will decide on your medical treatment. However, with a plan in place, your appointed authority will advocate on your behalf and share your wishes. This ensures that you receive care that aligns with your values.
Not only will your Proxy be able to advocate for you, but granting authority also allows this entity to access your medical records in an emergency. This can help save time when a crisis arises.
How Do I Establish One?
If you want to establish an Advance Healthcare Directive, ensuring you connect with an experienced attorney is critical. Unfortunately, this can be a document-heavy process, and trying to navigate this on your own can be incredibly complex. Additionally, you may find that making one error can severely impact the outcome of your wishes. As such, ensuring you take the necessary steps to connect with an experienced attorney to help you through this process is essential to ensuring this document is legally binding and accurately reflects your wishes.
At Krause Law, our dedicated legal team understands that thinking about your health and end-of-life care can be upsetting. However, our healthcare is something we often take for granted, so taking the necessary steps to protect your wishes is something that can help protect your wishes. As such, our dedicated legal team will do everything possible to assist you during these matters. Contact us today to learn more about how we can assist you and help you create a plan that reflects your beliefs.
