What is an Advance Healthcare Directive?
An advance healthcare directive is a legal document that allows you to specify your healthcare wishes in the event you become incapacitated or unable to make medical decisions for yourself. In California, the document is also known as a “living will” or “power of attorney for healthcare.”
What Do I Do to Draft an Advance Healthcare Directive in California?
Here are some steps to help you draft an effective advance healthcare directive in California:
- Choose an agent: The first step in creating an advance healthcare directive is to choose a trusted person to be your agent or “healthcare proxy.” This person will be responsible for making medical decisions on your behalf if you are unable to do so.
- Specify your wishes: Next, you need to specify your healthcare wishes. This can include things like whether you want to receive life-sustaining treatment if you are in a persistent vegetative state or whether you want to donate your organs after death. You can also specify any treatments or procedures that you do not want to receive.
- Consult with a healthcare provider: It is a good idea to consult with your healthcare provider to ensure that your wishes are realistic and feasible. Your healthcare provider can also provide guidance on which treatments or procedures may be necessary in certain situations.
- Complete the form: It is typically better to have an attorney help you draft your advance healthcare directive. But, you can obtain an advance healthcare directive form from the California Secretary of State’s website or from your healthcare provider. The form must be signed by you and two witnesses, or a notary public.
- Distribute copies: After you have completed the form, make copies and distribute them to your agent, healthcare provider, and any family members or loved ones who should be aware of your wishes.
- Review and update regularly: Review your advance healthcare directive regularly and update it as necessary to ensure that your wishes are still accurate and reflect your current values and beliefs.
Overall, creating an advance healthcare directive in California is an important step in ensuring that your healthcare wishes are honored if you become unable to make medical decisions for yourself. If you want to learn more about setting up an effective advance healthcare directive email us at contact@centralcoastestateplanning.com with the subject “More About Advance Healthcare Directives” and your message, and we will send you more information.
