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advance healthcare directive attorney Advance healthcare directives allow people to make choices about their medical care in advance of serious illness. It is never too early to start this decision-making process, and people should not postpone it until they face serious illness. A “power of attorney for healthcare provision” allows one to designate another to make their medical decisions should they become unconscious or incapacitated. A “living will provision” drafted by an attorney will allow one document their preferences as to the type of medical care they wish to receive in case the one becomes unconscious or incapacitated.

How an Advance Healthcare Directive Works

A California advance healthcare directive may have two components:

a power of attorney for health care and
a living will

A power of attorney for health care appoints another individual or “proxy” to direct health care decisions should the principal be unable to do so due to incapacity. This proxy may provide or deny consent for treatment that is to be taken or not taken including those relating to prolonging life. A power of attorney for health care is generally coupled with a living will provision because it is important for that person to know if you wish treatment to be continued as long as it can be effective or if you wish treatment not to be started or, if started, to be stopped.

A living will generally include specific directives as to the course of treatment that is to be taken, or in some cases forbidding treatment, should the principal be unable to give informed consent due to incapacity. Many people may want to avoid unnecessary suffering as a result of artificially prolonging of life in some situations. Others may want to insure that they receive treatment until all options have been exhausted. A living will records these preferences in advance of these situations.

Advance Healthcare Directive Attorney

As an estate planning firm based in Orange County, Ca, we provide comprehensive estate planning services including wills, trusts, power of attorney, and advance care directives for a full range of clients from high net worth to working class.

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South Orange County estate planning lawyer: Aliso Viejo l Costa Mesa l Dana Point l Irvine l Laguna Beach l Laguna Hills l Laguna Niguel l Laguna Woods l Lake Forest l Mission Viejo l Newport Beach l