Health-Care Planning
Name someone to make medical decisions on your behalf, and document your own treatment wishes.
Who can make medical decisions?
A medical power of attorney lets you name someone to make health-care decisions on your behalf if you’re unable to make them yourself. This is separate from a financial power of attorney, which addresses financial matters only. See Powers of Attorney for more on that side of planning.
What treatment wishes should be documented?
Beyond naming a decision-maker, you can document your own wishes about certain medical treatment, sometimes referred to as a directive to physicians. This is a personal decision, and the firm can walk through the available options with you.
Sharing information with the people you choose
A HIPAA authorization can let the people you name access your medical information when needed, so they’re not left without information at an important moment.
Documents that may be involved
Depending on your situation, this planning may involve documents such as:
- A medical power of attorney
- A directive to physicians
- A HIPAA authorization
Which of these apply to you, and how they’re structured, is something to work through with the firm rather than something to assemble on your own.
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Decide who can act for you medically.
Start with a few questions about your situation.
