Health care directives, or living wills, made major headlines during the Terri Schiavo case and many people talked about the need for such documents. But as the topic has faded from the headlines, it has also faded from our minds. A health care directive allows you to express your wishes and make decisions on medical issues if you are unable to communicate with your doctors. You can also appoint an agent to make these decisions for you. Even though the subject matter may be difficult, getting a health care directive is really simple. What excuse do you have for putting it off?
Health Care Directives
Monticello Estate Planning Attorney Answers: What to put in your Health Care Directive
Many people wonder what they can put in their Health Care Directive. The answer to that question really is, what do you want to put in it?
Your Health Care Directive can be as specific or as general as you want. You can appoint health care agent(s) and alternate health care agent(s) and specify if they can act independently or must act jointly. You can explain your general goals, values, and beliefs that impact your thoughts about health care. You can provide specific health care instructions regarding medical treatments, pain relief, nutrition and hydration, and mental health treatments. You can have special provisions for pregnancy. A Health Care Directive can also specify where you want to receive medical care or state your preference for a court-appointed guardian or conservator. And finally, you can use your Health Care Directive to state your preference as to donations of organs and tissues, cremation or burial, and funeral arrangements. What you do with a Health Care Directive is really up to you, because YOUR DECISIONS MATTER.
For information on Health Care Directives specifically in Minnesota, check out the Minnesota Department of Health’s Questions and Answers on Health Care Directives. Besides the general what is a health care directive and how to make one, there is also a good list of what you can put in a health care directive.
Minnesota National Healthcare Decisions Day Events
It is almost here! Tomorrow is National Healthcare Decisions Day! What are you doing tomorrow? The Minnesota NHDD Committee of Hospice Minnesota and the Minnesota State Bar Association’s Elder Law Section has released this list of NHDD Events happening around the state:
William Mitchell College of Law – 875 Summit Avenue, St. Paul, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. – Students and Attorneys available; 4:00 p.m. – Presentation by Kathy Eveslage, Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services, and Fran Conklin, Hospice Minnesota – Room 225. For information, contact: Janelle.januschka@wmitchell.edu
John Kantke and Harley Schreck – Elim Church, 685 13th Ave NE , Minneapolis, 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Open to all, but geared towards seniors. For information, contact: John Kantke at jkantke@kantkelaw.com, 612-326-6880; or Harley Schreck, h-schreck@bethel.edu, 651-638-6104.
Barb Blumer – Eagan Seniors Room, Eagan Community Center , 1501 Central Parkway ,Eagan, 11:00 a.m. to noon. For more information, call: 651 675-5515.
Henningson & Snoxell, Ltd. and Fairview Maple Grove Medical Center – Fairview Maple Grove Medical Center, 14500 99th Ave. N. , Maple Grove, Wednesday, April 16th – Starting at 11:00 a.m. and Thursday, April 17th – Starting at 7:00 p.m. For clients, patients and other interested persons. Call Susan Peterson at 763-560-5700 for more information or to register. Sessions are open to all, but space is limited.
Jennifer R. Lewis Kannegieter, Attorney at Law – Monticello Dunn Brothers, 1220 State Hwy 25, Monticello, 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. For information, contact Jennifer Lewis Kannegieter at: (763) 392-1518 or jennifer@lewis-k-law.com.
Grathwol Law Office – South Shore Senior Center, Shorewood, 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. For seniors and community members. For information, contact the Grathwol Law Office at: 952-474-2955.
If you are in the Monticello/Wright County area, please come see me at the Dunn Brothers for information on advance care planning and free health care directives.
Consumer’s Tool Kit for Health Care Advance Planning
In honor of National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD), Wednesday April 16, 2008, the next couple weeks will be devoted to providing information and sharing resources for advance health care planning. Please join me for my Monticello NHDD event or contact participating organizations in your state to find a local event. Check out this page for all the postings on NHDD and advance care planning.
Perhaps the most comprehensive online resource for advance care planning is the ABA Commission on Law and Aging’s Consumer’s Tool Kit for Health Care Advance Planning. Advance care planning is a difficult process. It requires you to do some soul searching; think about your values; contemplate serious illness, injury, and death; consider numerous situations and possible treatments; and share your thoughts, feelings, and wishes with family and health care providers. The ABA Commission on Law and Aging attempts to make this an easier process by providing 10 “tools” to help you make decisions on advanced care planning and talk to your family and doctors. These tools include things to think about, various quizes to help you make decisions and communicate them to others, and scripts to get the conversation started. The tool kit also includes a guide for health care agents and information on other resources. If you are having trouble getting started with your advance health care planning, I suggest you take a look at the tool kit.
The 10 Tools of the Tool Kit are:
1. How to Select Your Health Care Agent or Proxy
2. Are Some Conditions Worse than Death?
3. How do You Weigh Odds of Survival?
4. Personal Priorities and Spiritual Values Important to Your Medical Decisions
5. After Death Decisions to Think About Now
6. Conversation Scripts: Getting Past the Resistance
7. The Proxy Quiz for Family & Physician
8. What to do After Signing Your Health Care Advance Directive
10 Legal Myths About Advance Medical Directives
In honor of National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD), Wednesday April 16, 2008, the next couple weeks will be devoted to providing information and sharing resources for advance health care planning. Please join me for my Monticello NHDD event or contact participating organizations in your state to find a local event. Check out this page for all the postings on NHDD and advance care planning.
The American Bar Association’s Commission on Legal Problems of the Elderly has a great article on myths about advance medical directives. Among these myths are “Advance Directives are a legal tool for old people,” “If I do not have an Advance Directive, I can rely on my family to make my health care decisions when I am unable to make decisions for myself,” and “An Advance Directive Means ‘Don’t Treat.”
To read about these and the seven other myths, check out the full article, 10 Legal Myths About Advance Medical Directives.
Monticello National Healthcare Decisions Day Event FAQs
What is National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD)?
National Healthcare Decisions Dayis a collaborative effort of national organizations in the medical and legal communities to to highlight the importance of advance health care planning. Around the country events are being held to provide the public with information and tools on advance health care planning.
What will Jennifer R. Lewis Kannegieter, Attorney at Law be doing for NHDD?
In honor of National Healthcare Decisions Day, I am hosting my own event for the Monticello/Wright County community. This event will be held at the Monticello Dunn Brothers on Wednesday, April 16th, 2008 from 9:00-11:30 am and 4:00-7:00 pm.
What can I expect for the Monticello NHDD event?
This event is a chance for the public to learn about advance health care planning and health care directives. Jennifer R. Lewis Kannegieter, Attorney at Law will be there providing information and answering questions. Health care directive forms will be available for you to complete at the event, or take home with you and complete at a later date.
Is there any charge?
Absolutely not! This is a free event. I am donating my time as a public service because I believe it is important for the public to be informed and prepared with health care directives.
How do I register for the Monticello NHDD event?
No registration is necessary. This is an open-house style event. If you are planning a group outing for the event, give me a heads up and I can arrange for additional assistance for that time.
What if I have more questions about the Monticello NHDD event?
Please contact Jennifer R. Lewis Kannegieter, Attorney at Law for more information.
So on April 16th from 9:00-11:30 am and 4:00-7:00 pm, come on over to the Monticello Dunn Brothers, buy a cup of coffee, get some information about advance health care planning, and prepare your own health care directive. What’s stopping you?
