What is advance healthcare planning and how can I do it?

Advance healthcare planning is the process of making decisions about your healthcare before you become too ill to do so. This can include decisions about medical treatments, whether to receive palliative care, and how your medical decisions should be made in the event that you are unable to make them yourself. In California, advance healthcare planning is governed by the Health Care Decisions Law, which allows you to appoint someone you trust (called a healthcare agent) to make decisions on your behalf in the event that you are unable to do so. You can make advance healthcare decisions in several different ways. One popular way is through a living will, which outlines your healthcare desires, such as if you want to be kept alive through artificial means, or if you wish to donate organs after your death. You can also appoint a healthcare agent through a document known as a power-of-attorney for healthcare. This form allows you to name a person you trust to make decisions about your healthcare in the event that you are medically incapacitated. It is important to note that advance healthcare planning documents must be completed and signed by two witnesses, or a notary public. Again, California’s Health Care Decisions Law states that these documents must be signed by two disinterested parties (those who are not related to or financially responsible for you). Advance healthcare planning is a responsible way to make sure that your healthcare wishes are respected and followed when you are unable to make decisions on your own. With thoughtful and careful advance planning, you can be sure that your wishes are respected and that your healthcare decisions are in line with your values and beliefs.

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