Guidance for Making Medical Decisions
Medical decisions are highly personal choices, and they are relatively easy to make when your mental faculties are still with you. But with the possibility of illnesses that can rob you of your decision-making skills, how do you know that your personal wishes are being considered while family members are making decisions about your healthcare? Before you are unable to put these decisions in writing, it is important that you do all you can to protect yourself. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most basic options.
Advanced Directives.
In Connecticut, the Advance Directives documents covers several healthcare decisions listed below.
Living will.
This document portion of the describes all of the things that are most important for you in terms of care when you are unable to make those decisions for yourself. The most basic information includes whether or not you want to be resuscitated or kept on life support.
Healthcare Representative.
Going hand in hand with the living will is your appointment of a Healthcare representative, often referred to as your medical power of attorney. For most people, your spouse will automatically be the individual with whom medical facilities and professionals consult in the event that you cannot make your own decisions. But there may come a time when this is no longer possible. Selecting someone you trust to make these decisions for you can be critical to ensuring that your wishes are met.
Organ Donation.
You can specify whether you wish to be an organ donor.
Designation of a Future Conservator.
A conservator is appointed for an individual by the probate court. There were two types of conservators. A conservator of the person who makes medical decisions and decisions about where the individual lives and conservator of the estate who handles the finances for the individual. There are also voluntary and involuntary conservatorships. In an involuntary conservatorship, the individual is usually incapacitated where they can no longer take part in decisions regarding their care or finances. Each individual has the right to determine who will act as their conservator should they ever need one. This is the fourth part of the Advanced Directives in Connecticut.
Direct conversations.
Beyond all of the legal documents that will help secure your wishes for the future, it is essential that you begin having conversations with your loved ones long before you have the need for care. It can be uncomfortable, to be sure, but it is necessary. Talk to your spouse, your children, your siblings, or anyone else who may be involved in your long-term care or future medical interventions.
Consult with an attorney from our office who can help you work through this process and provide peace of mind for your future.
Do you have questions?
Count on your experienced team at Ericson, Scalise & Mangan, PC to provide you with sound guidance for your Estate Planning, Elder Law, Real Estate, Probate, Trust & Estate Administration, and other legal needs. For assistance, contact us today at (860) 229-0369, or email us at info@esmlaw.com.
