Now that the
holiday season is in full swing, if you are preparing to travel, don’t forget
these important legal documents you need to include in your suitcase. We never think an accident or illness will
happen while away from home. Are you prepared? There are two legal documents
you will want to have a copy of in case of an emergency.
First, your
Healthcare Power of Attorney (also known as a health care proxy or surrogate)
is a Durable Power of Attorney specifically designed to name someone you trust
to make healthcare decisions for you if you are unable to do so. When choosing
a health care agent, select someone who will keep your best interests and
wishes in mind. Not all powers of
attorney are created equal, so be sure you bring your Healthcare Power of
Attorney and not your Financial Durable Power of Attorney.
Second, your
Living Will (also known as an advance medical directive) is a declaration
setting forth your wishes regarding how you want to be treated with respect to
life prolonging medical procedures. A Living Will applies in situations where
you are unable to make your own decision, you have either a terminal condition,
end stage condition or are in a persistent vegetative state and your doctors
have determined there is no reasonable medical probability of your
recovery. If these elements are present,
then your Living Will says you do not want to be kept alive by life prolonging
procedures (respiration, hydration or nutrition) but you will accept a procedure
or medication that will alleviate your pain or provide comfort care.
Your
healthcare documents will not do you any good if no one knows about them; you
will need to talk with the person you designate in them to make sure they know
where you keep them. If you are travelling, put a copy in your suitcase or save
a copy to one of the many cloud storage programs available today.
Remember,
your Healthcare Power of Attorney and Living Will go into effect if you meet
specific medical criteria and are unable to make decisions for yourself. If you
do not have these valuable planning tools, feel free to contact The Law Officesof Hoyt & Bryan today to schedule an appointment with one of our
experienced attorneys.
For more
information or to schedule an appointment, call The Law Offices of Hoyt &Bryan at (407) 977-8080 or visit our website HoytBryan.com. Happy Holidays!
