View Details
No one wants to dwell long on the possibility that they may one day be incapacitated, through either a catastrophic event or a slow deterioration of mental functioning. But the unfortunate fact is that many of us will be incapacitated before the end of our lives.
A living will (AKA advance health directive) is a document that outlines our wishes, if we drop into a coma or persistent vegetative state. It includes a variety of treatment and care requests, including whether we want life support.
A medical power of attorney (AKA health care power of attorney) serves a different function. In a medical power of attorney, you name an “agent”, a person authorized to make health care decisions for you. Often this is not your spouse or child, as these decisions may be too emotional for them to make.
Other relevant documents may be revocations of health care powers of attorney, elder care instructions and other forms that help specify your medical wishes (or those of your parents).
Don’t force your spouse or children to make difficult decisions about how much medical care to provide for you, if you are incapacitated. State your wishes in advance, while you’re healthy, to spare them the double pain of both seeing you incapacitated and having to make life or death decisions for you.
While living wills and medical power of attorney documents communicate your wishes for care while you’re still alive, they do not extend to financial decisions or money matters. See our durable power of attorney forms for finances, and for matters of what should happen to your estate after your die, please see our estate planning will documents and living trusts.