The best estate plans protect people from a variety of different challenging circumstances. For example, their estate planning documents may include instructions for distributing their property and supporting their family members after their passing.
An estate plan can also include documents that have authority when someone experiences a personal medical emergency. Powers of attorney and other advance directives can play an important role in the protection of someone who becomes devastatingly ill or severely injured. The state of Indiana recognizes numerous different documents when added to an estate plan, and these documents can help to guide the care someone receives in an emergency.
What medical issues can someone address via advance directives in an Indiana estate plan?
Life support preferences
Some people would prefer to have medical professionals take whatever steps are necessary to preserve a prolong their life in an emergency. People can leave instructions requesting robust medical care when they are ill or injured. Other people provide the opposite by requesting that healthcare professionals do not resuscitate them or limit the life support provided when they experience extreme medical hardships.
Limitations on care
Some people have very specific preferences about healthcare because of personal beliefs or their religion. For example, some people cannot receive blood transfusions, while others refuse treatment with medications developed using stem cell research. Those who have personal preferences regarding the types of care or medication they receive or even the facilities where they undergo treatment may want to outline those wishes in an advance directive.
Any anatomical gifts
People can donate organs and tissues for transplants that could save someone’s life or improve the quality of someone’s day-to-day lived experience. Others may donate their entire bodies for scientific research, possibly because they have unusual medical issues. Family members often struggle with decisions about anatomical gifts, making it important for those who have strong feelings on the matter to execute documents explaining their preferences.
Adding advance medical directives, including living wills and powers of attorney, to an Indiana estate plan can protect a testator drafting documents and reduce the stress on their loved ones in the event of an emergency. Those who take the time to create more robust estate plans may feel that their interests are better protected regardless of what life brings.