BLACK FAMILY WEALTH MATTERS: Click here to learn how we are working to support you.
PROTEJA SU HOGAR Y SU FAMILIA - Se Habla Espanol. Haga clic aquí!
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Our Firm
    • About Our Firm
    • Areas We Serve
      • Los Angeles County
        • Inglewood
        • Malibu
        • Santa Monica
        • Torrance
        • Venice
    • Pre Consultation Form
    • Attorney and Staff Profiles
      • Attorney Caprice Collins
      • Attorney Lioness Ebbay
    • Awards & Recognition
    • Giving Back
    • Our Reviews
    • Speaker Connection
    • Staff Events
  • Services
    • Asset & Business Planning
    • Estate And Gift Tax Figures
    • Estate Planning Services
    • Family-Owned Businesses
    • Financial Planning Assistance
    • Incapacity Planning
    • IRA & Retirement Planning
    • Legacy Planning Services
    • LGBTQ Estate Planning
    • Medi-Cal and Elder Law
    • Pet Planning
    • SECURE Act
    • Special Needs Planning
    • Trust Administration & Probate
      • Trust Administration & Probate Definitions
  • EVENTS
  • Resources
    • Elder Law
      • Ladera Heights Elder Law
      • Los Angeles County Elder Law
      • Elder Law & Medicaid Definitions
      • Elder Law Reports
      • Medi-Cal Planning Checklist
    • Estate Planning
      • Estate Planning Checkup
      • Estate Planning Reports
        • Advanced Estate Planning
        • Basic Estate Planning
        • Estate Planning For Niches
        • Trust Administration
      • Estate Planning Definitions
      • Estate and Gift Tax Figures
      • Incapacity Planning Definitions
      • Is Your Estate Plan Outdated?
      • Top 10 Estate and Legacy Planning Techniques
    • Free Estate Planning Worksheet
    • Free Seminars
    • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Business Succession Planning
      • Elder Law
        • Medi-Cal
        • Nursing Home Planning
        • Understanding Dementia
      • Estate Planning
        • Charitable Gifting
        • Estate Planning for Women
        • Frequently Asked Questions for Families Without an Estate Plan
        • LGBTQ Estate Planning
      • Financial Planning
        • Tax Planning in Your Estate Plan
      • Incapacity Planning
        • Veteran’s Benefits
      • Legacy Wealth Planning
      • Pet Planning
      • Power of Attorney
      • Probate
        • Serving as Executor
        • Small Estate Administration
      • Trust Administration & Probate
      • Trusts
        • Living Trusts
      • Understanding Estate Taxes and How They Impact Your Estate Plan
    • Legacy Wealth Planning Pre-Consultation Form
    • Newsletters
    • Probate and Trust Administration
      • Bereavement Resources
      • How to Know if You Need Extra Help With Your Grieving
      • Loss of a Loved One
      • The Mourner’s Bill of Rights
      • Things You Need To Do When a Loved One Passes Away With a Trust
      • Things You Need To Do When a Loved One Passes Away With a Will
      • Trust Administration & Probate Definitions
    • Published Books
    • The Ultimate Caregiver Guide
    • Caregiver’s Worksheets and Checklists
  • Videos
  • Reviews
    • Our Reviews
    • Review Us
  • Women’s Planning
    • A Guide to Estate Planning for Women
    • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Trust Administration
  • Blog
  • Contact Us

Collins Law Group

Los Angeles Estate Planning Attorney

powered by BirdEye

Connect with us today(310) 677-9787

Attend a FREE Event
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Linkdin
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
Home » Estate Planning Articles » Protect Your Right to Make Medical Decisions

Protect Your Right to Make Medical Decisions

April 2, 2013

Compliments of Our Law Firm,
Written By: The American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys

There is a common misconception that as long as you’re healthy, there’s not much need to think about who would make medical decisions on your behalf, should you be unable to make them. When you are healthy, you discuss your health care concerns with your doctor and are able to express your own wishes.

But who would voice your decisions in the event of an illness or accident? Imagine you were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or terminal cancer, or you were seriously injured in a car accident. When faced with an incapacitating situation, your legal rights and well-being are vulnerable without your voice. Consequently, making your medical wishes known before there is a need for them is essential in maintaining your autonomy.

When your family and doctors are left without direction about your wishes, they are left to guess at the type of care or life-sustaining treatment you’d want, and they might not make very accurate choices. For example, how do you feel about being put on life support when your doctors say there’s no hope you’ll recover? If you want to be removed from life support but you’ve left no instructions expressing this wish, what will happen when your doctors recommend that your family “pull the plug?” Without a clear expression from you, that life support cannot legally be removed.

There are a few things you can do to make sure your medical wishes are carried out even if you are unable to advocate for yourself.

  • First, make sure you have a Living Will. This is a legal document that expresses your wishes regarding end-of-life decisions. For instance, you can express your wishes concerning life support, CPR, or treatments that could prolong your life but not cure you if you are terminally ill.

  • Second, make sure you have a Health Care Power of Attorney. This lets you appoint someone you trust, called your agent, to make certain medical decisions for you if you are unable to make those decisions yourself.
  • Third, make sure you talk to your agent and your other family members to let them know how you feel about important medical decisions and particularly about end-of-life medical care.

In some states, a Living Will and Health Care Power of Attorney are combined into one document called an Advance Health Care Directive.

Don’t wait until there’s an emergency to think about important health care choices. Today is the perfect time to start a conversation with your family and to meet with an experienced estate planning attorney. He or she can answer any questions you might have and help you make sure your wishes are honored, in addition to designing an estate plan to accomplish your goals for protecting your assets and family.

Primary Sidebar

Collins Law Group

Download our Free Report

Learn the common reasons you need to not only build and protect your hard-earned money, but transfer it with as little depletion and expense as possible.

Our Attorneys

Attorney Caprice Collins

Get to Know Attorney Caprice Collins


Attorney Lioness Ebbay

Get to Know Attorney Lioness Ebbay

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Linkdin
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

Testimonials

Client Review
August 19, 2020
    

“My mother told me about the Collins Law Group and I must say, the entire experience has been a real pleasure. Although I was nervous at first, the Collins Law Group staff put me at ease with their friendliness and knowledge. I didn’t realize how hard it could be on your family and loved ones left behind if you die without any planning or directions in place for them. My biggest concern was making sure my elderly mother would be provided for and taken care of if something happened to me. I have been a caregiver for her for 12 years, so this planning was crucially important. I had previously made a living trust for myself on Legal Zoom but there is no comparison to the level of service and professionalism that Collins Law Group embodies. Attorney Collins and her staff provides excellent service and it will take a large burden off of my family when they need guidance at the time of my passing.”

default image
-Ms. Jones

Where We Are

Collins Law Group
3330 West Manchester Boulevard
Inglewood, CA 90305
Phone: (310) 677-9787
Fax: (310) 677-6742
Email: clcfirm@aol.com

See Larger Map Get Directions

Office Hours

Monday9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Map

Collins Law Group Google Map

Footer

  • About Our Firm
  • Advantages of Working With Our Firm
  • Services
  • Sitemap
  • Resources
  • Blog
  • Contact Us

Connect with Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Linkdin
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
Collins Law Group footer logo

Attorney Advertisement

© 2023 American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, Inc.