When you are making your estate plan, one important step to take is planning for your medical future. If you do not have any type of plan in place, family members may need to make certain decisions on your behalf, such as what type of medical care they want to authorize. This can often lead to conflicts, so it is best to address these issues in advance.
Two of the main ways to handle this issue are with a medical power of attorney or with a living will. How are these estate planning documents different?
Making distinct decisions
With a living will, you actively make decisions or choices in advance. For example, you may already know that you do not want to be resuscitated or that you do not want to be kept on life support. You can write these types of decisions into your living will, which your medical team can then consult if you need care. This tells family members what you wanted and helps ensure that you receive – or avoid – the specific types of care you noted.
Choosing an agent
With a medical power of attorney, you do not have to make these choices in advance. You may be concerned that the future is unpredictable and that you do not have enough information to decide what type of medical care you would want. By using a power of attorney, you select an agent you trust to make these decisions on your behalf. They typically only gain authority if you become incapacitated, at which point they can step in.
Both of these options can be viable, depending on your personal goals. Consider them carefully when making an estate plan.