Estate Planning 101, Health Care Proxy

When it comes to estate planning, one should know about health care proxies. A Scottsdale health care proxy, also known as a durable power of attorney for health care, medical power of attorney, is a legal document that will let you choose someone to express your health care wishes and decisions if you are not able to speak.

1. It is very important to name someone as your health care proxy or agent in order to make sure that you will be receiving that health care that you want and not what someone else thinks you should receive.

2. A health care proxy goes into effect when are unable to communicate due to a temporary or permanent illness or injury. If you are able to regain your ability to communicate again, then you are able to speak on your behalf as to what you wan your health care wishes to be.

3. You can at any time choose someone else to be your health care proxy or agent if your prior proxy or agent is not able to take on this responsibility any more or does not agree with your health care wishes. So, it is important to choose someone in Scottsdale that you trust, you knows you well and understands exactly what it is you want, and will honor your health care wishes.

4. By choosing a health care agent you are also giving them permission to access your medical records if need be. However, you can choose to put restrictions on you power of health care agent if you state them in your legal document.

5. Be sure to also talk to your agent about your personal and religious beliefs on health, illness, and dying. Other things to discuss that are important are how you feel about comfort care versus life sustaining treatment, such as artificial nutrition and ventilation, or life support.

6. If by chance there is something that you and your agent have not talked about, with a Scottsdale health care proxy your agent is suppose to act on your behalf and in your best interests.

Need Help?

If you are not sure as to what legal document you currently have contact one of our professionals to help you with your planning needs. They will make sure you have all of your grounds covered and have the right legal documents that best suite your wants and needs.