HEALTH CARE PROXIES AND LIVING WILLS

Health Care Proxies

​

A Health Care Proxy is a document that enables someone you select to make health care decisions for you in the event that you are unable to make those decisions yourself.  The person you name in a Health Care Proxy may be a family member, a friend or anyone else.

​

In New York you can only name one person at a time; however you may name alternate health care agents in the even that the first person named in the document is unavailable to act.

 You can customize your Health Care Proxy to include your wishes in the documents or leave the authority to make decisions up to the person you designate to carry out your wishes and directives.  You should be certain that the person or people you name in the Health Care Proxy know your wishes and that he or she will make certain that your wishes are followed, even if the person(s) you name in the document disagree with the choices you make.

​

Living Wills

​

A living Will is a document that contains your instructions regarding the use of life-sustaining treatments and end-of-life decisions in the event that you are terminally ill or suffering from an illness with little chance of recovery, you are in a coma or otherwise unconscious and are incapable of expressing your wishes.

​

A Living Will is different from a Health Care Proxy in that it primarily expresses your wishes.  A Health Care Proxy primarily designates a person to make medical decisions your behalf when you are unable to do so.  

A Living Will is a helpful document to have if you have no one you wish to designate as your health care agent. Doctors, hospitals and other medical providers will be able to refer to a Living Will for your end-of-life choices when and if you are unable to make those wishes know to your medical providers.

​

The Law Office of Emily Ann Klotz PLLC will prepare a Health Care Proxy and/or a Living Will to ensure that your wishes for your care will be carried out if you become unable to make your health care decisions known.   Call today and schedule a consultation.