Benefits Of Designating A Health Care Surrogate
Creating an estate plan is an important step to secure your future and ensure that your wishes are respected. Certain estate planning documents, such as a will, can ensure that your property is distributed in the manner you wish and that your child has a guardian that becomes effective upon your death. However, there are also other legal instruments you can use to ensure your wishes are fulfilled during your lifetime. A health care surrogate is one of these. Below, our St. Petersburg advance directive lawyer explains the benefits of designating a health care surrogate.
What is a Health Care Surrogate?
A health care surrogate, also known as a health care power of attorney, is a person who will have the authority to make healthcare decisions on your behalf in the event that you ever become incapacitated. The agent you appoint in your health care surrogate designation document will then step in to make sure that any health care decisions made on your behalf align with your wishes, beliefs, and values.
Reduce the Strain on Your Family
If there is ever a time when you become incapacitated, your family members may have to make medical decisions for you. This makes a difficult time even more challenging. If your family members disagree about the care you should receive, it can lead to conflict. By designating a health care surrogate, you can help your loved ones avoid these disputes by making your wishes known.
Preserve Your Personal Values
Many people have their own religious and personal values when it comes to the health care they receive. For example, people with certain religious beliefs may not want to receive a blood transfusion, or a person may have strong beliefs about their diet and avoid certain foods. A health care surrogate can ensure that your beliefs are conveyed and that you do not receive any medical treatment you do not want.
Ensure Continuity of Care
If you ever become incapacitated, decisions about the medical care you receive may be made by people who are not aware of your wishes. By designating a health care surrogate, you ensure that you will receive continuity of care that is in line with your medical wishes, whether it involves surgeries, life support, or other important health care decisions.
Complement Other Estate Planning Tools
A health care surrogate document will work with other estate planning tools, such as a living will. Although a living will outlines instructions for medical treatment in specific circumstances, a document designating your health care surrogate will provide more flexibility in addressing unforeseen situations. This gives your health care surrogate the authority to make decisions based on the changing medical landscape.
Our Advance Directive Lawyer in St. Petersburg Can Draft Your Documents
Advance directives such as health care surrogates are important estate planning tools. Still, they can only work as intended when they are executed properly. At Legacy Protection Lawyers, LLP, our St. Petersburg advance directive lawyer can ensure that your documents are drafted properly so you and your wishes are fully protected. Call us now at 727-471-5868 or contact us online to schedule a consultation and to learn more about how we can help with your case.
Source:
leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0700-0799/0765/Sections/0765.401.html
