What is an advance health care directive?

An advance health care directive is an important document that allows an individual in Virginia to communicate their wishes regarding their medical care, in the event that they become incapacitated and cannot make decisions for themselves. An advance health care directive is also known as a living will because it legally authorizes another person to make decisions on your behalf. This individual, known as your “agent”, is responsible for understanding and carrying out your wishes regarding medical care. This can include decisions about life support and other treatments. An advance health care directive is an important document to have in place in the event you are unable to communicate your wishes due to physical or mental incapacity. It allows you to decide in advance who will make medical decisions for you, what medical treatments you do or do not wish to have, and who should be consulted regarding your medical care. Having an advance health care directive in place enables you to manage your own medical decisions, even in the event that you become unable to do so. This document is very important, so if you live in Virginia, you should consult an estate planning attorney to make sure it is completed properly.

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