When should an Advanced Medical Directive be used?
An Advanced Medical Directive should be used when you feel that it is necessary for you to have a say in medical decisions that may arise in the future. This document is used to give someone else the authority to make medical decisions for you in the event that you are unable to make them yourself. This document is especially important for those with disabilities and serious medical conditions, as it gives them peace of mind knowing that they can still influence decisions that may be made in their absence. This document is important to have at any age but the optimal time to create an Advanced Medical Directive is while you are still in relatively good health. This document should consist of a Living Will, where you decide when life-sustaining treatments can be withheld or withdrawn and a Durable Power of Attorney, where you give someone else the right to make decisions on your behalf in case you are no longer able to make them. The document should include specific instructions and be written in a specific format that is recognized by California courts. Given the importance of this document, it is important to understand the full scope of this document and consult with a lawyer if any changes need to be made. Additionally, it is important to have each document notarized and make sure that every important decision-maker is aware of its existence. In California, anyone 18 or older and of sound mind can create an Advanced Medical Directive. The official Advanced Medical Directive forms are available from the California Department of Healthcare Services website.
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