There are many things about the future that are uncertain. We may not know exactly what is in store for us in terms of health, but that doesn’t mean we can’t be prepared. A Health Care Directive is a great way to protect your wishes, and ensure your medical care goes according to your plans.


Minneapolis Health Care Directives

A Health Care Directive gives you control over your medical treatment. This important document, which is one part of Estate Planning, allows you to establish guidelines that physicians, and family, must follow in the event that you are unable to voice your own wishes.

In the state of Minnesota, a Health Care Directive is sometimes referred to as a Living Will, a Health Care Proxy, a Personal Directive, an Advance Decision, or an Advance Directive. No matter what we call it, the result is the same: it allows the executor to clearly establish his or her wishes for medical treatment and other end-of-life decisions. It also gives you the power to name a health care agent to make decisions on your behalf.

Although we never want it to happen, there are circumstances that sometimes render us unable to make our own decisions regarding health care. However, when you have a Minnesota Health Care Directive in place, then you can be certain your medical treatment will be according to your wishes. 


Why Create a Healthcare Directive

Not everyone wants the same medical treatment. When it comes to health care, there are many decisions that can be made. If you are incapacitated, then someone will have to make those decisions for you. This could include deciding how long to keep you alive through a feeding machine or a ventilation tube.

These are difficult decisions that can cause a lot of anguish for family members. Of course, these aren’t the only things that a Health Care Directive can involve. When you have this document in place, then your wishes are clear and must be carried out. This can help ease the burden on your family, and it also ensures you get the treatment that you want.

With a Health Care Directive, you can go into detail about the type of medical care you wish to receive. Many people use a Living Will to determine who will make medical decisions on their behalf if they cannot. Additionally, a Health Care

Directive generally allows an individual to establish:

  • Wishes for long term medical treatments;
  • Desired locations for receiving treatments;
  • Preferences for mental health care;
  • Status as an organ donor; and
  • Funeral and burial provisions.

A Health Care Directive may be very specific (such as breaking down medical care on a case-by-case basis), or it might involve more general details about an individual’s wishes. Regardless of what you choose to do with your Living Will, it is a powerful way to gain peace of mind.


Free Healthcare Directive Consultation

Establishing an enforceable Health Care Directive requires an experienced attorney. Our lawyers understand that this is a sensitive issue, and we are here to walk you through the process. If you are interested in talking more about Health Care Directives, contact us today at 763-323-6555 for a free consultation.