ARTICLES

Living Wills and Health Care Proxies

Advanced health care directives, more commonly known as advanced directives, are legal instructions provided by individuals to establish what they would like to have done (in terms of medical care) in the event that they are in a condition where they are no longer able to make health care decisions for themselves.

A living will is one type of advanced health directive that gives directions to an individual’s caregiver / medical provider as to how the affected individual would like to be treated and cared for.

Parameters Covered by a Living Will

Examples of areas of medical coverage that may be covered in a living will may include:

• Refusal of medical treatment entirely
• Refusal of only some forms of medical treatment
• Rejection of food or water

Additionally, living wills can specifically cover individual courses of treatments including the use / administration of:

• Pain medication
• Hydration
• Food
• Antibiotics
• Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
• Ventilators

Health Care Proxy

In some cases, a person may prefer to designate a relative or loved one as a “health care proxy,” rather than write a living will. A health care proxy is a person who is assigned to make any and all medical decisions on behalf of someone who is incapable of making his or her own decisions.

A health care proxy has the same role as a living will, and is in a position to refuse or allow certain types of treatment, medication, or food and drink.

Contact a Minneapolis Living Will Attorney

If you are interested in establishing a living will, contact the Minneapolis living will attorneys at the law firm of Skjold ▪ Barthel today at 612.567.7597 to talk to a legal professional.