Everyone who chooses to make an advance health care directive (AHCD) can also choose to update or modify those directives whenever they like. Making an advance directive is something anyone can do once they reach the age of 18. As long as you are capable of making decisions, you can decide what kinds of medical care you want to refuse or allow should you fall seriously ill or be seriously injured.
It’s also important to realize that you can change your mind about your medical choices whenever you like, assuming you maintain your ability to make decisions. If you change your mind about the types of health care you do or do not wish to receive, you need to make sure you update your advance health care directive as soon as possible.
Your Agent Under Your Advance Health Care Directive Form
A key part of the advance health care directive form is the provision that allows you to name someone to act as your health care agent. Your agent will have the ability to make medical decisions for you, and to interact with your doctor should you become incapacitated. In your form you can name an agent. You can also name alternate agents who can act as your agent should your original choices be unable or unwilling to serve.
But, you are under no obligation to keep the agents you select. If you want to change your primary designated agent, or any of your alternate agents, you can do so at any time as long as you remain mentally competent.
Your Decisions Under Your Advance Health Care Directive Form
Through your advance health care directive form you can also state specific medical choices, such as decisions about what kinds of care you do work do not wish to receive at the end of your life. As with any other decision you make through your directive you can change your mind about the types of care you want to receive. If you do change your mind, you’ll have to update your form to reflect your new decisions.
Updating Your Advance Directive
When you create your advance health care directive form, you have to be certain to sign the document and do so either in the presence of two competent witnesses or a licensed public notary. Similarly, updating any directive form will also require you to sign, witness, or notarize the document. Always be prepared to take the necessary steps if you want to update your directive, otherwise the document might not be accepted when you need it.
- Estate Planning for Small Business Owners - March 25, 2023
- The Consequences of Not Having an Estate Plan - March 23, 2023
- Estate Planning for Same-Sex Couples: Key Considerations - March 21, 2023
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.