Simplifying End of Life Wishes
End of life wishes for a sick or terminally ill loved one is difficult without the proper planning and documentation. In Maryland, this problem can be avoided with three simple and relatively inexpensive documents.
The three documents include a will, a living will, and a medical or durable power of attorney. A will deals with your last wishes concerning the distribution or dissolution of your property. A will does not take effect until after death.
A living will instructs the family and medical providers on the treatments that you wish to receive, including life sustaining measures and whether or not you wish your medical providers to perform or apply extraordinary measures. A living will may also include a ‘do-not-resuscitate’ order. It may also include a ‘do-not-intubate’ order. Intubation is the placement of a tube in the nose or mouth in order to have it enter the windpipe (trachea) to help with breathing. The order may also instruct the mdical providers on artificial nutrition and hydration. This is used when you are no longer able to take food and fluid by mouth.
A medical power of attorney lets patients select someone else, a family member or a friend to make care decisions when they are temporarily or permanently unable to communicate their wishes.
The final document, called a POLST, or physician orders for life sustaining treatment, is a medical order form, signed by the patient and the doctor. This form becomes part of the patient’s medical records and provides specific instruction on issues such as breathing machines and feeding tubes.
In addition to the above documents, everyone should have a power of attorney. A power of attorney names an attorney-in-fact and may name a secondary attorney-in-fact to deal specifically with financial issues.
Please contact the Law Office of Michael J. Onifer, III to discuss these matters and to avoid being confronted with the harsh circumstances if you do not have these documents available.
