We assist clients with planning to ensure that in the event of your incapacity, medical decisions concerning your health can be made by a person you appoint and empower.
Health Care Proxies
A Health Care Proxy allows a client to select one or more people to make health care decisions for him in the event the client is unable to make those decisions for himself. The Health Care Agent is supposed to stand in the shoes of ill or incapacitated person and make health care decisions that person would make for himself.
When considering whom should be named as a Health Care Agent, it is important to select someone who will be able to handle making decisions in times of crisis. It also needs to be someone who will act for you just as you would want them to act regardless of his or her own beliefs. Not everyone can effectively act as a Health Care Agent.
Advance Medical Directives (Living Will)
A living will allows you to affirmatively request that your health care agent refuse or remove life support in the event you are in a coma or a vegetative state. Your Living Will helps assure that your moment of death is not artificially prolonged.
It is important to note that Massachusetts does not recognize the use of Living Wills. A Living Will may be helpful to assist your Health Care Agent in times of crisis, but it is not binding on any medical facility. It is also advisable that you discuss your feelings and goals about your health care thoroughly with your Health Care Agent to be sure he or she understands how to act in your best interest.