Canton Advanced Directive Lawyer
An advanced directive, which is also called a living will, is a legal tool used to inform your medical providers about what procedures you want and do not want to have performed on you during critical care if you are incapacitated. Advanced directives make these types of traumatic experiences a little more bearable for your loved ones, as they do not have to make guesses about what you would want in terms of resuscitation, ventilation, tube feeding, etc. Canton advanced directive lawyer Brian S. Karpe can help explain what an advanced directive means for you and your loved ones, and draft this “living will” for you should you ever become incapable of making your own informed decisions about your healthcare.
Advanced Directives Are Used for End of Life Treatment
Advanced directives are only used for end of life care. This means that they only come into play when your condition does not have a chance of improving. They are commonly used by people to ensure that they do not end up in a vegetative or comatose state, only being kept alive by 24-hour medical care, ventilation, and tube feeding. Furthermore, advanced directives are only necessary if you are unconscious, in a coma, or otherwise incapacitated and cannot communicate with your doctors.
Advanced Directives Reduce Conflict and Pain For Your Loved Ones
One of the most beneficial aspects of an advanced directive is the solidity that it provides for your family. Because you took the time to create a legal document that outlines what you want in certain scenarios, your healthcare team and your loved ones are obligated to respect these wishes. As such, your family will not have to argue or debate the treatment that they think you would want, and will be able to find some semblance of peace knowing that your wishes were carried out.
Considerations for Your Advanced Directive
Advanced directives should detail what type of treatment you do or do not want should you become critically ill with no chance of recovery and no way to communicate your wishes. The following types of care are often detailed in advanced directives:
- Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
- Tube feeding
- Mechanical ventilation
- Dialysis
- Antiviral medication
- Antibiotics
- Organ and tissue donation
- Body donation
- Palliative care
You Do Not Need an Advanced Directive for a DNR
It should be noted that you do not need to create an advanced directive if you wish to not be resuscitated if your heart stops. A Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order is written by a doctor, informing other healthcare providers to not use CPR or a defibrillator to restart your heart.
Reach Out to a Canton Advanced Directive Lawyer Today
An advanced directive saves your family from having to make hard, ill-informed decisions about what your last wishes may or may not be. For help creating an advanced directive so that your end of life wishes are respected and carried out, we urge you to reach out to Canton advanced directive lawyer Brian S. Karpe. Call today at 860-217-1458 to schedule a free consultation.
