It’s easy to forget that estate planning is not just about what happens when you die. It should also outline your choice of emergency medical care if you suffer a serious injury or illness that leaves you unable to state your wishes and direct your own care.
Without directions, doctors are often faced with difficult decisions over how far to go to resuscitate someone or prolong life. Things like intubation and life support are repugnant to some people, but desired by others. If you want to make your wishes clear to your loved ones and medical providers, here are two options you can use:
1. A medical power of attorney designation
You can give someone your medical power of attorney to make such decisions for you, in consultation with the doctors, of course. They will only be allowed to speak on your behalf when you are judged to be unable to speak for yourself.
2. A living will
You can also leave written guidance for doctors through a living will. You could, for example, say yes to any necessary life-saving organ donation, but no to being kept alive on feeding tubes. In some cases, this goes beyond mere personal preference and is influenced by cultural or religious beliefs.
Many people use a combination of the two methods. They put down some guidance in a living will and appoint a power of attorney to step in when a decision is needed on any matter they did not cover.
Some people forego this step altogether, believing their family can make any necessary calls. While this can work, family members might not always agree with each other, and it can put them in a difficult spot. So it is better that you make some decisions now, to relieve them of the responsibility and any guilt that might follow. Learning more about these options is a good place to start.