Category

Healthcare Proxy

Times to Have “The Conversation”

By | Advance Directives, Choice, Completed Life, Death With Dignity, Disability, DNR, End-of-life care, End-of-Life Planning, Funeral Planning, Healthcare Power of Attorney, Healthcare Proxy, Hospice, Medical Aid in Dying, Mental Illness, PAD, Palliative Care, Rational Death, Religion, Spirituality, Suffering and Death, Surrogate, VSED, Wills | 6 Comments

“The rest is up to you,” he finally said, ending the conversation for good. He didn’t have any more guidance, and certainly no more patience to talk about it. I was surprised. To me, it felt slightly irresponsible to leave all these decisions to other people.

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Finding and being a good (or great) health care advocate

By | Advance Directives, Healthcare Power of Attorney, Healthcare Proxy, Surrogate | 5 Comments

One problem with advance directives is that often they are not honored. It is critical that you have a good advocate who demands that you get only the care you want and do not get what is not wanted, not only at end of life but at any time you encounter a medical institution. You will need to choose someone who meets the legal requirements to act as a health care or medical agent, which some states call a proxy, surrogate, or representative. I call this person your “advocate.” State requirements differ greatly, so be sure to use your state’s forms for naming a health care or medical agent, not generic documents like the “5 wishes.”

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