Life is unpredictable, and even young and healthy people can be left incapacitated by injury or illness. That is why many California residents include advance medical directives in their estate plans. An advance medical directive is a document that communicates an individual’s health care preferences to their doctors and loved ones, and it also allows them to appoint a trusted individual to make medical decisions on their behalf if they become incapacitated.
Advanced health care directives
Advanced health care directives are sometimes confused with other estate planning documents. Living wills describe an individual’s health care preferences and state when treatment should stop. Medical powers of attorney designate responsible individuals to make health care decisions. Advanced medical directives serve both of these purposes. In California, the Office of the Attorney General’s website provides a downloadable form that can be used by people who want to draft advanced medical directives.
Trusted individuals
If you decide to include an advanced medical directive in your estate plan, you should think carefully before you appoint the person who will make health care decisions on your behalf. This person is referred to as an agent in California. Most people choose a relative or close friend to act as their agent, but you can choose whoever you want as long as the person is not:
- One of your health care providers
- An employee of one of your healthcare providers
- An operator or employee of a care center
- An operator or employee of a nursing home or hospice
Peace of mind
Like most estate planning documents, the main benefit of an advanced medical directive is the peace of mind it provides. With an advanced medical directive in place, you will know that your wishes will be respected if you become incapacitated. You will also ease the burden on your loved ones.