Things to think about when preparing an Advance Medical Directive

To go hand in hand with our offer for a free Advance Medical Directive during the month of October in honor of Special Needs month, here are a few questions to ask yourself prior to having your document prepared. Who do you want to name as your health care representative?  Your health care representative will be the individual who makes medical decisions for you should you be unable to do so.  You should choose someone who will follow your wishes, who can expresses these wishes to your medical providers and who can ensure that the medical providers will honor your wishes.  Your health care representative will also be designated as an individual authorized access to your medical information under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA—the same law that makes your doctor hand you a privacy statement every year) Keep in mind, your doctors are only able to discuss your medical condition and care with those you authorize in writing to receive your health care information.  Your named health care representative will have that authority under your Advance Medical Directive.  

Another question you need to ask yourself prior to having your document prepared is: what care do you want during your final illness?  You must decide what medical care and treatment you wish  to have during your final illness.  What interventions do you want to continue and what interventions do you want discontinued, such as respiration, nutrition, hydration.

Once you’ve thought these things over, come in to have your Advance Medical Directive prepared.  It’s free during the month of October-what could be better than that?

Free Advance Medical Directive

 Throughout the entire month of October, Diana L. Anderson and Annemarie Schreiber will offer a free Advance Medical Directive in honor of Special Needs Month. An Advance Medical Directive, also known as a Living Will, is an important document that can preserve your health care decisions.

 As Special Needs Law Attorneys, Anderson and Schreiber, assist families in developing a strategy for financing long-term care as well as provide them with the legal tools for financial management.

 Diana L. Anderson is a Certified Elder Law Attorney with more than twenty years of experience in Elder Law, Special Needs Trusts, Estate Planning, Disability Planning and Special Education Law.  Annemarie Schreiber has more than ten years experience practicing Elder Law, Special Needs Trusts and School Law. Both attorneys have a thorough understanding of Medicare and Medicaid, special needs trusts, estate planning and a student’s right to an independent educational plan.

 If you or someone you know, such as a family member, is in need of setting up an Advance Medical Directive have them contact us at 732-797-1600 to schedule an appointment. If you have any questions about an Advance Medical Directive, do not hesitate to contact us for more information.