HOW HEALTHCARE ADVANCE DIRECTIVES WORK IN FLORIDA
All competent adults have the right to make decisions regarding their health. But, a problem can arise if an adult loses the ability to make these decisions. When this happens, how can someone communicate their health wishes to loved ones and health care providers?
One can ensure their wishes are followed through an estate planning tool known as a healthcare advance directive. There are three kinds of healthcare advance directives: living wills, health care surrogate designations and anatomical donations.
A living will is a statement of how the drafter wants or does not want their medical treatment, if that person becomes unable to make these decisions. Unlike a traditional will, a living will can become effective while the person who made it is still alive. People can complete their living wills without professional assistance, but it might not be a bad idea to show one's living will to an estate-planning attorney to see how it can fit in with an estate plan.
A healthcare surrogate designation is sometimes called a health proxy. It designates another person to make healthcare decisions on one's behalf if one becomes unable to make them. A healthcare surrogate designation can also include instructions about treatment similar to a living will.
An anatomical donation indicates a wish to donate all or parts of one's body after death. An anatomical donation can cover everything from a tissue donation to patients to a donation of one's body for training doctors and other healthcare workers. An anatomical donation can be set up by designating it on a driver's license or state identification card, signing a uniform donor form or providing for it in a living will.
Established in 1991, Rignanese & Associates is available to work with clients on their legal needs. Let us help you save time, trouble and money.
Rignanese & Associates is available to work with clients on their unique situation. Please reach out to us at our headquarters at 141 5th Street NW, Suite 300, Winter Haven, Florida 33881 at 863.294.1114.
On behalf of J. Kelly Kennedy, Attorney/CPA, PLLC, which has been acquired by Rignanese & Associates, PLLC.
Source: FloridaHealthFinder.gov, "Health Care Advance Directives," accessed on Sept. 17, 2017