The Time to Create Advance Medical Directives is Now
The recent death of child actor Gary Coleman should serve as a reminder to us all of the importance of having an advance medical directive.
After suffering a major brain hemorrhage sustained in a bad fall, Coleman was placed on life support at a Utah hospital while doctors consulted with the woman they believed to be his wife – but who, it turns out, had been divorced from Coleman in 2008. She was no longer legally able to provide direction for his care.
Luckily, Coleman had drafted an advance medical directive, no doubt because of his long history of health problems. Medical authorities followed his wishes as laid out in that directive, and he was removed from life support and died shortly thereafter.
Advance medical directives include:
Living Will – a document that specifies what kind of medical treatments should take place in case you are incapacitated.
Health Care Proxy – a document that designates a person who can make health care decisions for you in cases where you cannot.
Durable Power of Attorney – a document that gives the power of attorney to others to make financial transactions for you in case you are medically incapacitated.
For more information on advance medical directives and Florida estate planning, contact our Jacksonville Florida estate planning law firm.
