Many people do not make medical plans in advance, either as part of their estate plan or otherwise. This is a major risk, though. If you don’t have a plan and become incapacitated, then doctors and family members won’t know the type of care you would have wanted to receive.
To address this, some people use a living will, an advance directive, or a DNR (do-not-resuscitate) order. These options allow you to leave instructions for your medical team in advance. For instance, you may want to tell them that you would prefer not to be kept on life support but would like other life-saving efforts, if possible.
However, there is a third option, known as a medical power of attorney. How is this different, and what advantages does it offer?
Choosing an agent
With a medical power of attorney, instead of making specific medical decisions in advance, you choose an agent who will make those decisions for you. This needs to be someone you trust and someone you know will have your best interests in mind.
The advantage here is that you don’t have to make assumptions or guess about the type of medical care you may need. You don’t know what the future holds, but you do know that your medical agent can be present to talk to your doctors about the best options at the time. They have the legal authority to make these decisions, ensuring you receive appropriate healthcare.
As you can see, medical planning is a big part of an estate plan. Be sure you know what options you have.
