You can leave a list of instructions for your medical team as part of your estate plan. This way, if you’re incapacitated, they know what type of medical care you want. This is known as a living will.
For example, perhaps you’re worried about being unable to communicate after having a stroke or reaching a certain level of incapacitation due to Alzheimer’s or dementia. If you have specific wishes about your future medical care—such as not being resuscitated or not being kept on life support—you can spell these out in a living will so that your doctors are aware.
But there’s another option: Using a medical power of attorney.
How is this different?
This is a much different process, even though it addresses the same end goal. You don’t have to make all of your medical decisions in advance with a power of attorney. Instead, you choose someone to act as your agent, and the medical power of attorney gives them the legal authority to make medical decisions on your behalf.
The main benefit of this approach is that your agent may have far more information in the moment than you can anticipate ahead of time. They’ll know your current condition, what treatments the doctors are recommending, what your odds are for recovery and what your future quality of life may look like. Your agent can then make informed decisions in real time, based on your best interests.
Both documents can be useful when making medical decisions. Just be sure you understand all of your legal options when setting up your estate plan.