Advance health care directives are legally documented instructions for the medical care and treatments you wish to receive or do not wish to receive. These are recorded and preserved in the event you become unable to decide such matters for yourself. Your legal advance health care directives statement can be referred to when critical decisions must be made for your care; in this way, medical authorities know your wishes and can act accordingly.
Susan B. Geffen is a Los Angeles advance health care directives attorney in Hermosa Beach who can work with you to create this document while you are able to think through these matters. She can advise you on common decisions your loved ones may face regarding your medical care in the event of an accident, aging or other concerns. Thinking through these decisions ahead of time can prevent your family from the stress of making these decisions without knowing your wishes.
Do I Need a Living Will in California?
A living will is another name for the legal document that details the medical care you do or do not wish to receive if or when you become unable to decide these matters for yourself. Also known as an advanced health care directive, many people use them to stipulate, for example, that they do not wish to be placed on any form of life support for an extended period of time. Others may detail certain situations where they do wish life support measures for a predetermined period, or if under other specified circumstances they do not wish to be revived.
- DNR orders (Do Not Resuscitate)
- Life Support Orders
- Transfusions
- Artificial Hydration and/or Nutrition (Feeding Tube)
- Procedures
- Long-term Care
- Organ and Tissue Donation
- Pain Mediation
- Limited Medical Testing
Susan B. Geffen can help you record as many instructions as you see fit in your living will or advanced health care directive. She also advises that spouses, children and other close loved ones be present as you discuss these matters. Their feelings and wishes should also receive fair consideration as you think through these important decisions.
While a living will or advance health care directive is not required in the State of California (Probate Code 4803), your advance directives may be registered with your attorney and with the California Secretary of State. Prior knowledge of a living will by your family can put their minds at ease about caring for you in the future.
What About a Health Care Surrogate?
Often, Redondo Beach families also choose a health care surrogate in addition to a living will or advanced health care directive. There are many situations that cannot be foreseen. If you do not have specific instructions in a living will for a particular situation, whomever is named in your advanced health care directive as your health care surrogate is legally empowered to make medical decisions for you.
Los Angeles Advance Health Care Directives Attorney Susan B. Geffen can work with you and your loved ones to choose an appropriate person to assume this role in the event of your incapacitation. It is always best that your family and close loved ones agree on this person to avoid potential future conflict. If something happens to you and the services of this health care surrogate are required, the stresses of those circumstances can present numerous problems if a stranger or untrusted person has been named to fulfill this role.
Health care surrogates and living wills help eliminate confusion and uncertainty when difficult decisions must be faced in a medical crisis. Having these legal documents in place and available can be incredibly comforting to your loved ones, shielding them from making painful decisions without knowing your wishes.
Call or contact Susan B. Geffen online today to arrange a confidential consultation to discuss advance health care directives, health care surrogates and other future planning needs.