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HEALTH CARE PROXYPeople don't want to think that an accident or illness would prevent them from saying what they want - or don't want - when it comes to their future medical care. We tell ourselves: I have plenty of time to take care of those things later…if I get sick…when I'm older.
But things do happen in our lives that are out of our control. Choosing a health care agent who will speak for you and make decisions when you are unable is a very important task that each adult needs to make, regardless of age or health care status. Your agent will advocate for your preferred treatment and ensure that your wishes are carried out at a point in time when you cannot speak for yourself. There are two situations in which a health care agent will be needed. The first would be the temporary inability to make health care decisions. For example, you are having an outpatient surgical procedure and are under general anesthesia. Something unexpected happens and a health care decision needs to be made. If you have a health care agent, since your are temporarily unable to make your own decisions, the health care agent may make the decisions. Once you become conscious again, the health care agent would no longer have any authority to act. The second situation in which a health care agent will be needed would be the permanent inability to make health care decisions - this would arise if you were comatose, suffered from an illness that left you unable to communicate, or if you suffered from dementia or Alzheimer's disease. If you have appointed a health care agent, your agent can be your voice and make your health care decisions according to your own wishes. Once you choose your agent, our office will draw up a Health Care Proxy, the advanced directive specifying the person you have decided to act as your advocate to speak on your behalf should any health care situation arise. Please contact the Law Offices of Bernadette M. Crowley at (718) 423-5500 or [email protected] for more information. |
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