Estate planning in Colorado is not just about what happens when someone dies. An estate plan can also address what happens when an individual has a significant medical emergency. Adults in Colorado can draft advance directives at the same time that they can establish testamentary documents.
They can draft medical powers of attorney naming a trusted person to serve as their agent if they become so incapacitated they cannot communicate or make legally binding choices on their own behalf. They can also draft living wills, which help clarify personal wishes regarding medical treatment.
What types of care preferences do people often choose to specifically discuss in their living wills?
Life support preference
One of the hardest choices people may ever need to make in a hospital involves whether to continue life support or allow someone to pass when there are limited signs of brain activity. Families may struggle with that decision if left without guidance. They may also incur major medical bills because of the costs of life support. People may want to leave clear instructions regarding when they want their families to keep them on life support and when withdrawing support might be the right decision.
Wishes regarding anatomical gifts
A living will can include provisions for what happens if someone dies. An individual who dies from a pulmonary embolism or car crash injury might be able to save other lives with a donation of organs and tissue. Other people with unusual medical challenges might want to leave their bodies to science for research purposes. Surviving family members can often have a hard time making those choices, so addressing anatomical gifts in the living will can often be a wise decision.
Pain management and other personal wishes
People who are relatively young and healthy may want to request limited pain relief so that they don’t recover from a medical emergency with a chemical dependency issue. Others might recognize that given their significant medical challenges, comfort is more important than the possibility of chemical dependence. Being clear about wishes regarding pain management can help ensure that an individual receives the treatment they believe is appropriate. In scenarios where they have strong feelings about other types of care, possibly because of their personal beliefs, outlining those wishes can also be a smart decision.
Those who create robust estate plans help to ensure their own protection and reduce the pressure on the people they love. Drafting a living will can be as important as establishing powers of attorney in case of an incapacitating incident.