Cincinnati Estate Planning Lawyers Explain the Benefits of Advanced Directives
By Barry Zimmer on April 5th, 2018 in Advance Directives, Care Planning, Estate Planning
Cincinnati estate planning lawyers can provide help with the creation of a plan to protect your future. At Zimmer Law Firm, we provide representation and assistance to people of all ages in addressing the issues that matter when it comes to preparing for life’s uncertainties. We not only offer assistance with the legacy planning process, but we also help in case you get sick or hurt.
If something happens to you, important decisions may need to be made regarding your medical care at a time when you are not equipped to make those decisions. Having advanced directives in place is one of the best things that you can do for yourself and for your family. There are many key reasons why it makes sense for you to create an advanced directive before you get sick. Some of the top benefits of advanced directives include the following.
You Can Control the Medical Care You Receive
When you create an advanced directive, you can specify your preferences in advance regrading medical care in an emergency situation. If you do not want to be resuscitated, you can make clear that you don’t want extraordinary measures used to save or prolong your life. If you want to decline a feeding tube or a ventilator to help you when you cannot breathe, advanced directives give you the power to express your preferences.
If you want to ensure you get every possible life-saving measure, you can also express that preference as well. It becomes up to you to make decisions on quality of life versus quantity of life when you express your preferences in advanced directives so you are ultimately the one that makes these very personal decisions.
A Timely Decision Can be Made on Care
When you are incapacitated and cannot consent, often very quick decisions need to be made regarding what medical techniques to use to try to save you. If you have advanced directives and your doctors know of your preferences, decisions can be made without having to wait to determine who is in charge of giving consent on your behalf and getting permission from that person to act.
Your Family Won’t Have to Cope with the Guilt of Making a Decision
If you have not expressed your preferences for medical care in advance of the time of a serious medical emergency, you family may need to make decisions about whether to remove a feeding tube or ventilator that is keeping you alive. Your family may not know what your preferences would be regarding the use of alternative means or extraordinary medical techniques to keep you live and thus may not be certain what the best course of action is. If they opt to discontinue treatment, they could be left feeling guilt over whether they made the right decision. All this can be avoided if you have advanced directives so you are ultimately the one who makes the choice.
Your Family Won’t Be Left Fighting Over Your Care
If you haven’t expressed your preferences in advance and/or chosen a healthcare proxy to act for you, your family members may disagree over who should be in charge of making decisions on your care. Your loved ones could also have conflicting opinions regarding what you would have wanted. This can set up a situation where your family goes to court to fight over what should happen to you. Not only can this result in a delay in important medical decisions, but family relationships might be permanently ruined at a time when your loved ones should be coming together in grief.
Cincinnati Estate Planning Lawyers Can Help You Create Advanced Directives
Because there are so many benefits associated with the creation of advanced directives, there is no reason not to put advanced directives in place. You should make your plans for what will happen if you get sick even if you are currently young and healthy. You never know when an accident will happen or a sudden illness will strike and you will lose the chance to communicate your preferences about your care. You don’t want to put yourself or your loved ones in that position.
To find out more about how Cincinnati estate planning lawyers at Zimmer Law Firm can help you with the creation of advanced directives join us for a free seminar. You can also give us a call at 513-721-1513 at any time.