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Paul Marchese of Marchese & Maynard LLP Trust and Estate Attorneys is very familiar with end-of-life care decisions’ tension and conflict. These conversations between family members are often rife with emotion and decades-old strife. But, the primary concern is doing what is best for the patient who may be in palliative care or hospice, living at home with a terminal illness, or may have experienced a traumatic accident that has left the person in a persistent vegetative state.
A Living Will is also a good idea for anyone who wants to pre-plan for a catastrophic event. A living will have a limited scope. It is not about what will happen to your finances and estate but what will happen with your medical care in the case of imminent death.
The Benefits of a Living Will
The greatest benefit of having a living will is that you can make tough decisions about your medical care before you are faced with an unfortunate medical situation. A medical power of attorney appoints a proxy to stand in for you to make sure your medical care wishes are adhered to.
It is a legally binding document that Paul Marchese & Maynard LLP can have drawn up, signed, and witnessed within the comfort of their own offices. The appointed healthcare power of attorney will typically have the power to decide on your medical treatments, which may include surgery, pain medications, life-sustaining interventions, and other end-of-life care decisions.
Prevents family arguments and discord
When you grant medical power of attorney (POA) to another family member, you clearly state that that is who you trust and desire to make those important decisions for you.
Reduces the burden of decision-making for caretakers. A power of attorney can take the sting out of many sensitive family issues because it is typically a sibling who acts as the elderly parent’s agent, and it is typically the person who has already devoted much time and care to that parent’s well-being.
Refuses any treatments you wouldn’t want
A common refrain heard by Paul Marchese is that many people prefer not to live without a certain quality of life. Some treatments that may delay death or will not add to the person’s full recovery include “do not resuscitate” orders,” feeding tube refusals, or an acknowledgment to accept passive euthanasia (known as “pulling the plug”)
Marchese & Maynard LLP is a specialized firm focused on estate planning and estate administration. Our goal in helping you plan and file a living will is to help make medical decisions easier for your family. Since you have specified what you want and who you want as a medical care representative, it becomes easier for everyone to accept your wishes.
Paul Marchese suggests making these advanced healthcare directives if you are living with a terminal illness or if you are about to have a complex surgical procedure. In general, if you have strong views on medical care, then you can set up a limited living will just to make sure any medical procedures or medical care options are always in line with your views and values.
