What is an advance health care directive?

An advance health care directive, sometimes referred to as a living will, is an important document for estate planning in California. This document outlines the type of medical care you would like to receive if you are ever too ill or disabled to make these decisions for yourself. It can cover things like whether you want to be kept on life-support if you are terminally ill, if you would like to donate your organs, if you would like to be an organ recipient, and other medical decisions. This document can also name someone you trust to make decisions on your behalf if you are unable to. This person is called a health care agent or proxy who can communicate your wishes to your doctor in the event of an emergency. If you are ever hospitalized or in intensive care, the doctors will likely ask you or your designated health care agent/proxy if you have an advance health care directive in place. It’s important to have this document filled out so that your wishes can be respected in the event of an emergency. It is suggested that you fill out this document ahead of time and keep it in a safe place. It is important that the document is readily available to your health care providers in the event of an emergency. You may also want to discuss your wishes with a lawyer and communicate them to family members or close friends.

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What is an advance health care directive?

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