Health Care Proxy Attorney in Manhattan

Contents

We all have times when we need care and support. There may even be times when you need someone else to make healthcare decisions for you. Before these critical moments arise, you need to have the proper legal documents in place. A healthcare proxy can ensure that the people you trust have the power they need to care for you if and when the time comes.

At Chaves Perlowitz Luftig LLP, our Manhattan healthcare proxy attorneys help people plan for their future. Whether the healthcare proxy is part of a larger estate plan or a standalone document, we can help you put yours in place. Call us today or contact us online for a free consultation.

What Is a Healthcare Proxy?

A healthcare proxy is an important legal document that allows you to specify what your healthcare wishes are. The document also allows you to name a person as the healthcare agent who can make decisions for you if you become incapacitated by an illness or other medical problem. A healthcare proxy gives your agent clear instructions on how you want your medical care to proceed.

Under a healthcare proxy, as long as you can make decisions about your care, you have the power to do so. Your healthcare proxy document will set forth the conditions under which it will become effective. Your agent is then empowered to authorize the care you have chosen. The healthcare agent can also decline further care based on instructions in your healthcare proxy.

You can cancel the authority of your healthcare agent at any time. If your plans or relationships change, you can modify your healthcare proxy as needed.

What to Consider When Choosing a Healthcare Agent

When you select a healthcare agent, be mindful of who you choose and your reasons for selecting that person. Your agent must be at least 18 years old and should be someone you trust, such as a close family member or friend. The person you select could one day have tremendous power to make medical decisions for you. It is important to have someone who will understand and respect your healthcare instructions.

Talk with your healthcare agent about what sort of medical care you are willing to receive. Think about the care and treatments you would want and whether at any point you might want to decline further treatment. Communicate this to your agent and make sure that you articulate your wishes and needs.

Powers of a Healthcare Agent

Generally speaking, your healthcare agent can make nearly any healthcare decision that you would make in that situation. That means the healthcare agent can decide the nature, amount, types, and extent of any treatment you receive. One exception to their decision-making power depends on whether you articulate your wishes about artificial nutrition and hydration (such as through the use of a feeding tube). If your wishes on those matters are not clear, your healthcare agent will not have the power to allow or deny those elements of care.

When you are drafting your healthcare proxy, keep in mind that you can limit your agent’s power or restrict the agent’s decision-making power in certain circumstances. If you have questions about the powers of a healthcare agent, speak with a New York City healthcare proxy lawyer today.

Making Your Healthcare Wishes Known

When you are deciding what medical care you would want under various scenarios, talk with your agent. By having a straightforward and honest conversation, you can make your wishes known and take the burden off the agent. Key issues to consider include:

The artificial nutrition and hydration you would want as well as any situations where you would not want that care. Depending on the situation, your desires may change. It is wise to think through several potential scenarios.

Whether you would want continued life support when you are in a coma or another serious incapacitated state. The continued use of ventilators and other life support techniques might fall under this category.

What types of treatments and care you would want in a situation where you have a terminal illness. This may include hospice care and other types of treatments.

Whether you want a DNR or “do not resuscitate” order.

By letting your agent know what your wishes are, you can minimize stress and confusion. You can also protect your own health and maintain control over your healthcare even when you are unable to make decisions on your own. If you have questions, speak with a Manhattan healthcare proxy lawyer today at Chaves Perlowitz Luftig LLP.

Healthcare Proxy vs. Power of Attorney

A healthcare proxy form empowers someone to make healthcare decisions, while a power of attorney allows someone to make decisions on nearly all other matters, such as financial decisions. To learn how each document can be an important part of your estate plan, contact a healthcare proxy attorney in NY at Chaves Perlowitz Luftig LLP.

Talk to a Manhattan Healthcare Proxy Lawyer Now

We believe every adult should have a healthcare proxy in place. If you are ready to learn more, contact Chaves Perlowitz Luftig LLP today. Our experienced lawyers can help you draft a healthcare proxy and show you how it can be part of a larger estate plan. With decades of experience helping people throughout Manhattan and New York, we can help you plan for the future and find the peace of mind you need.

Call Chaves Perlowitz Luftig LLP today or contact us online for a free consultation.

Monday	9:00 am - 5:30 pm
Tuesday	9:00 am - 5:30 pm
Wednesday	9:00 am - 5:30 pm
Thursday	9:00 am - 5:30 pm
Friday	9:00 am - 5:30 pm