Advanced Health Care Directives

An advanced directive provides detailed instructions about choices you made concerning your end of life care. These documents memorialize your healthcare decisions in the event you cannot communicate your wishes. They also protect your decisions from being misinterpreted by unknowing loved ones. Find out more about advanced directives by calling Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Donna J. Jackson, Attorney at Law, P.C. She advises clients about end of life decisions in the cities of Edmond, Norman, Bethany, Piedmont, Yukon, Mustang, and El Reno.

There are two types of advanced directives that need to be drafted:

Living Wills

This document instructs doctors and family members on using extraordinary medical treatment in order to prolong your life if you become terminally ill. Typically, a living will is only effective when you are diagnosed with a terminal and incurable medical condition. This advance directive will state what treatment you want in order to prolong your life. Any other types of medical conditions will not apply to a living will. It is important to create a health care power of attorney to deal with these non-life threatening medical conditions.

Healthcare Power of Attorney

This document authorizes an individual to make medical decisions for you if you become unable to do so. This also provides instructions concerning what type of medical treatment you desire to receive upon your incapacitation.

When your doctor determines that you are unable to make medical decisions for yourself, the healthcare power of attorney becomes effective. This person has the ability to make all medical decisions for you, unless contrary to your living will. It is important to understand the full extent of the power of attorney before creating one. Attorney Donna J. Jackson will sit down and advise you about your options.

To speak to an Oklahoma City attorney about advanced directives, call Donna J. Jackson, Attorney at Law, P.C. at 405-840-1874. If you have questions, fill out and submit the attached contact us form.