What Types of Advance Directives Should You Draft?
Advance directives are used to outline your wishes in the event that you are ever unable to make decisions for yourself. There are many different types of advance directives and the ones you choose to draft will depend on your own preferences as well as your personal situation. Below, our Tampa advance directives lawyer outlines the types of documents you can draft.
Living Wills
Living wills specify what type of life-saving treatment you do and do not want if you are ever in a persistent vegetative state, or suffer from a terminal or end-stage condition. Living wills must be drafted according to state law in Florida. They must be properly executed and witnesses must sign the document. One of the witnesses cannot be a spouse or blood relative of the person who drafted the document. Drafting a living will can greatly help your family members, as it can relieve them of the difficult decision whether to continue or stop life-saving measures.
Health Care Surrogates
Health care surrogates allow you to designate another person to make medical decisions on your behalf in the event that you cannot make them on your own. Health care surrogates can be effective on either a temporary or permanent basis. For example, if you suffer a permanent incapacity, a health care surrogate can name a person who will make decisions on your behalf. On the other hand, a health care surrogate can also become effective temporarily if you are under general anesthesia for a surgery that will take place over just a few hours.
Do Not Resuscitate Orders
Do Not Resuscitate Orders, also known as DNROs, are documents that request that no resuscitation measures be used in the event of respiratory or cardiac arrest. These documents must be signed by a physician and you or your health care surrogate. Emergency medical providers must actually see the DNRO before withholding resuscitation efforts. Without this document, they have a legal duty to administer CPR.
Pre-Need Guardian Documents
If you ever become incapacitated and cannot make healthcare, financial, and other decisions for yourself, the court may appoint a guardian. A Pre-Need guardian is a document that names the person you would like to act as your guardian in the event that you ever need one.
Anatomical Gifts
If you would like to donate part or all of your body for the purpose of transplantation, medical research, or organ or tissue preservation, you can use an Anatomical Gifts form. You can also use this form to express your wishes against donating all or part of your body.
Our Advance Directives Lawyer in Tampa Can Advise On Your Case
If you have strong wishes for your end-of-life care, or in the event of incapacitation, there may be several different types of advance directives you may want to draft. At Messina Law Group, P.A., our Tampa advance directives lawyer can help you determine which ones are best for the situation and execute them properly so your final wishes are fulfilled. Call us today at (813) 492-7798 or contact us online to schedule a consultation and to learn more.
