National Healthcare Decisions Day – April 16, 2013

Who will make medical and financial decisions in the event of your incapacitation or disability? These are important questions to discuss with your family members, loved ones, attorney and healthcare provider.

April 16, 2013 is National Healthcare Decisions Day, a national initiative to encourage Americans of all ages to plan ahead of a health crisis. Making decisions ahead of time and putting your wishes in writing brings peace of mind to families. It helps to avoid the difficult situations that are so common when a person becomes seriously ill and the family is left to guess and make heart-wrenching decisions regarding what their loved one would have wanted.

Powers of attorney can be exceptional estate planning tools that can specify medical, financial, health care and lifestyle decisions of an individual and assign an individual (attorney in fact) who is responsible for execution of decisions.

A “healthcare power of attorney” is a legal document that states which person you have selected to be your voice for your healthcare decisions if you cannot speak for yourself.

A “living will” is a legal document that states what kinds of medical treatments and life sustaining measures you would or would not want at the end of life.

Drizin Law is providing this information for educational purposes only. It should not be construed as legal advice or a legal opinion as to any specific facts or circumstances. This information is based on general principles of Nevada law at the time it was created and you should be aware laws frequently change. Moreover, the laws affecting you may differ depending on the circumstances. You should consult with a qualified attorney in your own state or jurisdiction concerning your particular situation. Review of this information does not create an attorney-client relationship.