Advance Directives
Ensure Your Healthcare Wishes Are Honored
What are Advance Directives?
Advance directives are legal documents that communicate your healthcare preferences and treatment wishes when you're unable to speak for yourself. These essential estate planning documents ensure your medical care aligns with your values and beliefs during critical health situations.
Types of Advance Directives
Living Will
Specifies your preferences for end-of-life medical treatment, including life-sustaining measures, artificial nutrition, and pain management when you're terminally ill or in a persistent vegetative state.
- Life support preferences
- Artificial nutrition and hydration
- Pain management wishes
- Resuscitation decisions
Medical Power of Attorney
Designates a trusted person to make healthcare decisions on your behalf when you're unable to communicate your wishes or make medical decisions yourself.
- Treatment decisions
- Hospital and facility choices
- Medical record access
- Healthcare provider selection
HIPAA Authorization
Allows designated individuals to access your protected health information and communicate with your healthcare providers about your medical condition and treatment.
- Medical record access
- Provider communication
- Treatment information sharing
- Insurance coordination
Do Not Resuscitate (DNR)
A medical order that instructs healthcare providers not to perform CPR or other life-sustaining measures if your heart stops or you stop breathing.
- No CPR attempts
- No electrical shock therapy
- No artificial ventilation
- Comfort care focus
POLST Form
Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment - a medical order form that translates your treatment preferences into specific medical orders for emergency responders and healthcare providers.
- CPR preferences
- Medical intervention levels
- Antibiotic use decisions
- Feeding tube preferences
Mental Health Directive
Provides instructions for mental health treatment preferences and designates someone to make mental health decisions during periods of mental incapacity.
- Psychiatric medication preferences
- Treatment facility choices
- Therapy preferences
- Mental health agent designation
Why Advance Directives Are Essential
Honor Your Wishes
Ensure your personal values and treatment preferences guide medical decisions when you can't communicate them yourself.
Reduce Family Burden
Relieve your loved ones from making difficult medical decisions by providing clear guidance about your preferences.
Guide Healthcare Providers
Give doctors and medical staff clear instructions about your treatment preferences and care goals.
Legal Protection
Provide legal authority for your healthcare decisions and protect against unwanted medical interventions.
Cost Management
Help avoid unnecessary and expensive medical treatments that don't align with your care preferences.
Peace of Mind
Provide comfort knowing your healthcare wishes will be respected during critical medical situations.
Healthcare Decisions to Consider
- Aggressive treatment vs. comfort care
- Experimental treatments
- Surgery preferences
- Medication administration
- Dialysis decisions
- Mechanical ventilation
- Artificial nutrition and hydration
- CPR and resuscitation
- Defibrillation
- Intubation preferences
- Hospital vs. home care
- Nursing facility preferences
- Hospice care decisions
- Rehabilitation facility choices
- Specialized care units
- Pain medication preferences
- Sedation decisions
- Comfort measures
- Quality of life priorities
- Palliative care options
Creating Your Advance Directives
Consultation & Education
Meet with an experienced attorney to understand your options and learn about different types of advance directives available in Texas.
Personal Reflection
Consider your values, beliefs, and preferences regarding medical treatment, end-of-life care, and quality of life priorities.
Choose Healthcare Agent
Select a trusted individual to serve as your healthcare power of attorney and discuss your wishes with them in detail.
Document Preparation
Your attorney prepares customized advance directive documents that reflect your specific healthcare preferences and legal requirements.
Execution & Witnesses
Sign the documents in the presence of required witnesses and notary public to ensure legal validity and enforceability.
Distribution & Updates
Provide copies to your healthcare agent, family members, doctors, and hospital. Review and update regularly as needed.
Important Considerations
Family Discussions
Have open conversations with family members about your healthcare preferences to ensure everyone understands your wishes and values.
Regular Reviews
Review and update your advance directives regularly, especially after major health changes, life events, or changes in your values.
Accessibility
Ensure your advance directives are easily accessible to healthcare providers, family members, and your designated healthcare agent.
Legal Compliance
Work with an experienced attorney to ensure your documents meet all Texas legal requirements and will be honored by healthcare providers.
Medical Team Communication
Discuss your advance directives with your primary care physician and specialists to ensure they understand your preferences.
Emergency Access
Consider keeping copies in multiple accessible locations and informing emergency contacts about their existence and location.
Plan for Your Healthcare Future
Don't leave your healthcare decisions to chance. Ensure your medical treatment aligns with your values and wishes. Our experienced attorneys at Morales Padia Law will help you create comprehensive advance directives that protect your healthcare autonomy.
Schedule ConsultationRelated Estate Planning Services
Want to work with us?
Estate planning can be complex, but you don’t have to navigate it alone. Our experienced attorneys at Morales Padia Law are here to guide you through every step of the process, ensuring your assets are protected and your family’s future is secure. If you’re ready to take the next step in securing your legacy, contact us today to schedule a consultation.
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