The right to make your own decisions concerning your healthcare is central to both the doctor-patient relationship as well as your rights as an individual. All adults have the sole authority to make these decisions, and no other person or court can act without your consent.
However, situations can arise where you are unable to make these decisions on your own. This usually involves cases where an illness or injury leaves you in a condition where you cannot effectively communicate your desires for care. Here, an Advanced Directive for Healthcare can let family members and medical professionals know what steps you want to take.
Our experienced attorneys at Nelson Elder Care Law can provide more information about Advanced Directives for Healthcare in Marietta. This includes the role that these documents play in future medical decisions, how to create them in a way that has the intended legal effects and selecting parties to carry out your wishes.
The purpose of an Advanced Directive for Healthcare is to let medical providers know what treatment you desire should you be unable to communicate these wishes directly. Perhaps the most common example is the Do Not Resuscitate order that informs doctors that a person does not wish to remain on life support.
However, these legal documents can perform a far greater role. They may nominate another individual to make medical decisions on your behalf without specific instructions. They may also require that these people authorize experimental treatments that are not yet standard practice. In short, an Advanced Healthcare Directive allows you to retain control over your medical treatment.
Even so, it is important to separate these documents from Powers of Attorney. Powers of Attorney allow a loved one to make legal decisions on your behalf, but this never includes medical choices. A Marietta lawyer at Nelson Elder Care Law can help to explain these key differences and help you better understand Advanced Healthcare Directives.
The idea of forming a comprehensive Advanced Directive for Healthcare in Marietta may seem daunting. Thankfully, state law provides a template that you can use to ensure compliance with the law and the creation of a valid document.
Using the Official Code of Georgia Annotated § 31-32-4, you can select whether you want your directive to nominate another to make medical decisions on your behalf or provide specific treatment preferences in the event of incapacity. This form even allows you to nominate a Guardian should the need arise. Finally, the document leaves spaces for you to sign the document as well as add the signatures of two witnesses.
Despite the presence of this form, it may still be useful to obtain the help of an attorney. Our seasoned lawyers in Marietta can help select the options that are right for you and explain the role that an Advanced Directive for Healthcare will play in your future healthcare.
The law is clear in stating that adults have the sole ability to determine what healthcare steps they wish to take in the present and future. However, situations do arise where a person may suffer from an illness or injury that leaves them unable to communicate these desires. When this happens, having an Advanced Healthcare Directive in place is critical.
These documents can empower another to make decisions on your behalf. They can also provide specific instructions for what kind of treatment you want or those that you decline. Reach out to Nelson Elder Care Law today to discover more about Advanced Directives for Healthcare in Marietta and how they can provide you with a more stable future.
