Preparing for Coronavirus: The #1 Legal Document Every Adult Needs to Have
As the coronavirus continues to disrupt daily life and leave Americans uncertain of the future, you don’t have to feel helpless during this pandemic. In fact, now is a great time to be proactive and plan ahead should you or a loved one fall ill. One of the most important and relatively easy things you can do (and should do) is to select a Healthcare Agent and sign your Advance Directive for Health Care.
What Is a Healthcare Agent?
A Healthcare Agent (also called a healthcare surrogate, a healthcare proxy, or a medical proxy) is a person you authorize in a healthcare power of attorney to make decisions about your medical care if you are unable to communicate your wishes.
Why is it important to choose a Healthcare Agent now?
As of April 14, 2020, there are more than 588,000 total confirmed cases of coronavirus in the United States. Of those, approximately 15-20% of individuals require hospital treatment, and fewer still are in critical condition. However, since no one knows exactly how they will be affected by the virus, it’s best to plan for the worst and hope for the best. Part of that planning is making sure someone can make healthcare decisions for you if you fall ill and are unable to make those decisions for yourself.
Factors to Consider in Choosing Your Healthcare Agent
A Healthcare Agent is an important role, and the person you choose will have the power to make critical healthcare decisions—like consenting to a treatment plan, whether to accept or refuse medical treatment, and which healthcare providers or hospitals to use for your care. As a result, it is crucial to think carefully about who you choose to fill this role. Many people simply assume that their spouse or their oldest child should take on this role, but you will want to keep several factors in mind as you choose who should serve as your Healthcare Agent.
Here are some factors to consider when selecting an agent:
Emotional maturity: People handle stress differently, and not everyone is able to set aside their emotions and make level-headed decisions when someone they love is suffering. In addition, some people are simply not assertive enough to act as a strong advocate in the face of differing opinions of other family members–or even health care providers–who suggest a treatment plan you have informed your Healthcare Agent you do not want. You should choose someone who is able to think rationally in emotionally difficult circumstances, even if that means you must look outside of your family to find the best person for the job.
- Location: The person you choose to act as your Healthcare Agent should be someone who lives close by and is able to act on your behalf very quickly in the event of a medical emergency or if you need your advocate to serve in that role for an extended time period. In current times, many people might be under a mandatory or recommended stay-at-home order, or may not be available or willing to travel to another city or state. Consider naming several alternate agents to account for someone’s potential unavailability.
- Willing to Serve: Acting as a Healthcare Agent can be a time-consuming and emotionally draining job. Make sure that the person you choose is willing and able to set aside the time necessary to serve as your patient advocate. Don’t just assume the person you want to be your Healthcare Agent is willing! Be proactive and ask if he or she is willing to take on that role. Keep in mind that if you are elderly, you may want to avoid naming a friend or family member who also is older, as there is a greater chance that they will experience mental or physical decline at the same time as you, which could impede their ability to serve as your advocate when the time comes.
- Respectful of your wishes: Your Healthcare Agent has a duty to make decisions on your behalf that you would have made to the extent that he or she is aware of your wishes. This is the case even if your Healthcare Agent disagrees with your choices. As a result, your Healthcare Agent needs to be willing to set aside his or her own opinions and wishes to carry out yours. It may be prudent to appoint someone who has values and religious beliefs that are similar to yours to reduce the instances in which your agent’s opinions differ significantly from yours. Do not choose anyone that you do not trust to carry out your wishes.
People You Should Not Choose
Many states have laws prohibiting certain people from acting as your Healthcare Agent, even if they are otherwise well-qualified to act in that role:
- Minors: In Georgia, both the person naming a Healthcare Agent and the Agent must be 18 years of age or older. In other states, the age of majority could be 18, 19, or 21 years of age, depending upon the state. Some states have exceptions to this prohibition for married or emancipated minors.
- Your healthcare providers: In Georgia, a physician or health care provider who is directly involved in your health care may not serve as your health care agent. Some states not only prohibit your health care providers from acting as your Healthcare Agent, but also preclude the owner, operator, or any employee of any facility in which you are a patient or resident from acting in that role.
How We Can Help
Medical directives may be among the most important legal documents you prepare -especially considering COVID-19. Choosing a Healthcare Agent can be tricky. We can help you think through your choice. We can also help with any other estate planning needs you may have—whether that’s setting up a Financial Power of Attorney, Last Will and Testament, or a Trust.
Please give us a call today at 404-410-6820 or email us at [email protected] to discuss how we can help you and your family to protect assets, pay for care, and plan for all of the “what ifs” of life.
To read more about Paul and his practice, click here: https://georgia-estatelaw.com/about-paul/.
The Law Office of Paul Black, LLC serves clients throughout Georgia in the areas of Elder Law, including Long-Term Care Planning for Medicaid and Veterans’ Pension (Aid & Attendance) Benefits; Estate Planning (including Wills, Revocable and Irrevocable Trusts, Financial Powers of Attorney and Healthcare Directives); Estate Administration/Probate of Decedent’s Estates; Special Needs Trust Planning; and Uncontested Guardianships and Conservatorships.
