End-of-life can be an overwhelming time, but with the right level of preparation, you can achieve peace of mind. A Medical Power of Attorney is one of the legal documents that can reassure you during this time. Here are some reasons why it’s important to have a Medical Power of Attorney.
Allows You To Prepare
The first reason it’s important to have a Medical Power of Attorney is that it allows you to prepare. One of the best ways to cope with end-of-life anxiety is through preparation. Getting all your legal documents in order is an essential step in end-of-life planning. When you have a terminal illness, your health can decline quickly, and you never know when that may happen. Setting up your Medical Power of Attorney is a natural step in the process that allows you to prepare for the time that you may become incapacitated.
Gives You Peace of Mind
Peace of mind is another reason why a Medical Power of Attorney is important. You must put a lot of thought into who you choose to make healthcare decisions for you when your health declines to the point that you are unable to make those choices yourself. When you decide on a person you trust and have your Medical Power of Attorney form filled out, you can rest easy knowing that when the time comes, your trusted person will take care of everything for you.
Follows Your Wishes
The third reason you need a Medical Power of Attorney is that it ensures medical professionals follow your wishes. There are some important choices that you’ll have to make about how your doctors handle your healthcare situation if you become incapacitated. You’ll need to have a living will and decide if you want a Do-Not-Resuscitate order. If you don’t make these crucial decisions beforehand, someone else will have to make them for you and they may make a choice you wouldn’t like. Therefore, you should prepare your legal documents and Medical Power of Attorney to reassure yourself that medical professionals will follow your wishes appropriately.
Now that you know the importance of having a Medical Power of Attorney, you can begin the process of filling out your own. Make sure to give yourself enough time to complete all the necessary legal forms and think through your choices before making final decisions.
