Controlling Extreme Medical Situations – Whether it’s a paramedic, loved one, friend or a good samaritan who responds to your emergency first, technology can instantly give them the timely life-saving information needed that can save your life!
by Kevin James Culp
However, in extreme cases what happens when you are on life-support and can’t answer for yourself? Perhaps you know someone who can’t right now for varied reasons. Will their wishes be known when the time comes? Will YOUR wishes be known to an emergency when the time comes?
Being a small business owner is hard enough right now with all of the unknowns and this is one item you can control.
This post will help you gain control over your most extreme situations. I took a call this morning from a user of the AccountMedical.com system that will store everything from a DNR document to primary care provider information, to insurance information to prescribed medicines their son was taking and they wanted to ask a few questions about the QR scanning element of the system that is open to the public to scan.
Their son was not able to speak for himself and they wanted to ensure in this new normal that he was covered and all his wishes known. In addition, his information being uploading will save time in future doctor’s visits and in multiple of ways.
Buy purchasing the monthly subscription service they can store all of his information and a lot more. What’s also so unique about this personal health records system is YOU have complete control over the health data you provide, it’s secure and very easy to set up.
Controlling Extreme Medical Situations – What is a Health Care Directive?
A directive allows you to plan your medical treatment in advance should there ever come a time when you are unable to express your personal health care wishes.
A Health Care Directive is also known as:
- Advance Directive
- Living Will Form
- Advance Health Care Directive
- Advance Medical Directive
- Living Will
- Advance Decision Form
Controlling Extreme Medical Situations – What is a Medical Power of Attorney?
A Medical Power of Attorney is a document used to appoint someone to make medical decisions on your behalf.
A Medical Power of Attorney is also known as:
- Health Care Power of Attorney
- Health Care Proxy
- Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care
- Power of Attorney Medical
Controlling Extreme Medical Situations – What is a Living Will?
A Living Will is a document that you use to indicate your medical wishes in the event you are incapacitated or cannot consent to your health care treatment.
Controlling Extreme Medical Situations – Is a Living Will the same as a Health Care Directive?
Some states use the terms Living Will and Health Care Directive interchangeably, and some states use one term but not the other. Generally, a Living Will and a Health Care Directive both dictate your health care preferences in the event of a medical emergency or incapacitation.
A Health Care Directive may also be used to refer to a document that contains a Living Will and a Medical Power of Attorney. In addition, different states have varying requirements in what constitutes a Living Will or Health Care Directive.
It’s important to check your state’s laws regarding these documents to determine exactly which documents you need to express your wishes.
What is the difference between a Living Will and a Last Will and Testament?
If you are unable to express your health care wishes in the future, hospitals and family can reference your Living Will as a statement of your medical wishes.
Alternatively, a Last Will and Testament is a document used to indicate how you would like your assets divided or children cared for after your death. You cannot specify medical treatment preferences with a Last Will.
Why should I create a Health Care Directive?
Without a Health Care Directive, the burden of making your medical decisions falls on your family members. Creating a personal directive not only gives you control of your medical wishes but it saves your family from making tough treatment choices on your behalf.
Additionally, implementing a Medical Power of Attorney allows you to discuss your treatment wishes with someone you trust prior to any unforeseen medical circumstance so they can make health care decisions in your best interest.
What medical decisions can I make with a Living Will?
Every state has its own limits as to what you are legally permitted to include in your directive. While you may specify instructions for a variety of medical situations and describe your feelings towards quality of life, keep in mind that health care providers can only carry out certain procedures according to your state laws.
With LawDepot’s Living Will template, you can make decisions regarding the following medical situations:
Terminal Illness or Injury
If you are terminally ill or injured, you can document which, if any, treatment options you would like to pursue.
Terminally ill or injured means that medical professionals have concluded that you have a condition that cannot be cured and that is expected to result in limited life expectancy.
Life Support
You can specify whether you would like to receive any form of life support in the event of a medical emergency.
Life support means any life-sustaining procedures done to a patient to restore function to an organ through medical intervention.
Common forms of life support include CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation), defibrillators, assisted breathing, dialysis, and artificially administered food and water.
DNR stands for “Do Not Resuscitate”, which means you do not wish to receive life support or resuscitation if an organ fails.
Permanent Unconsciousness
You can address which, if any, treatments you would like to receive in the event of permanent unconsciousness, such as a coma or persistent vegetative state.
Permanent unconsciousness is when there is a reasonable degree of medical certainty that the patient can no longer think, feel, knowingly move, or be aware that they are alive, and there is no hope for improvement.
When does my Health Care Directive come into effect?
The terms of your directive are binding once you sign the document. It comes into use when you have been found to be incapable of making your own medical decisions. Typically, this may be when you are incapacitated, in a coma, or in a vegetative state.
Can I make changes to my Health Care Directive?
You can make changes to your personal directive if you destroy your current one, notify your health care representative or hospital of your changes, and create and distribute a new directive. It’s important to let everyone in your family know where you keep your advance directive so they can easily find it during an emergency.
Controlling Extreme Medical Situations – Related Documents:
- Power of Attorney: a document used to grant someone the authority to act on your behalf, such as tending to your finances or maintaining property
- Last Will and Testament: a document specifying how you would like your estate divided upon your death
- Child Medical Consent: a form granting a guardian the authorization to make medical decisions on behalf of your child
- Medical Records Release: a form requesting your medical records be released to you or a third party
- End-of-Life Plan: a document used to outline your wishes regarding memorial services or how you want your remains to be taken care of
Create your free Health Care Directive in 5-10 minutes right now by clicking HERE NOW.
Thanks for Reading and Carpe Diem My Friends!
SOURCES: Lawdepot.com
Related Additional Reading Suggestion: COVID19: Who Will Survive, Who Will Thrive and Why
Sources and further reading
- Manage your business (U.S. Small Business Administration): SBA guidance on finances, hiring, taxes, marketing, and cybersecurity.
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Photo by Lyubomyr Reverchuk on Unsplash
Helpful outside resources: McCombs School of Business.
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