Choose a Health-Care Decision Maker in Cudahy

Start with the responsibility you are assigning

The central question is who you want to designate as your health-care agent. A directive can give that person a role in making health-care decisions. Consider whether the person understands that responsibility, can communicate with you, and is willing to act in the role you discuss.

Keep the appointment distinct from financial authority. Health-care authority and financial authority serve different purposes; naming someone for health-care decisions does not, by itself, answer who should handle financial matters. If you are considering authority in both areas, discuss each role separately rather than assuming one appointment covers both.

• Identify the person you are considering and why you trust them to represent your wishes.
• Consider whether they are comfortable asking questions and communicating with others on your behalf.
• Make a separate decision about who, if anyone, you want to consider for financial authority.

Consider alternates and communication

Before settling on an agent, think through practical circumstances that could affect whether that person is available or able to take on the responsibility. You can discuss possible alternates and how you would want important information communicated. These are planning topics to work through; they do not replace the choices and terms you make in your documents.

A useful discussion focuses on how your proposed agent would understand your priorities and raise questions when decisions arise. You might also consider whether the person is comfortable speaking with the people involved in your care. The goal is to choose someone who can engage with the responsibility, not simply someone whose name seems like the obvious choice.

• List a first choice and any alternate you want to discuss.
• Consider how each person might receive and communicate information.
• Think about whether your choices are people you can speak with openly about your priorities.

Keep the agent appointment separate from treatment preferences

Choosing who may make health-care decisions and considering what treatment preferences you want to express are distinct planning questions. Naming an agent addresses who is designated for decisions; it does not tell that person, by itself, what preferences you want considered. Plan time to discuss both topics so the person you choose has a clearer understanding of what matters to you.

You do not need to make medical decisions during an initial planning conversation. Instead, identify questions or values you want to discuss and consider how you would explain them to your proposed agent. The agent-selection conversation is not a substitute for communicating preferences in the appropriate planning documents.

• Write down subjects you want to discuss with the person you are considering.
• Consider what you want that person to understand about your priorities.
• Keep questions about treatment preferences separate from questions about financial authority.

Prepare for a focused planning conversation

Before speaking with the firm, make a short list of your proposed agent, possible alternates, and the questions you want to resolve about communication and responsibility. You can also note whether you are considering a separate person for financial authority. These notes are preparation, not a legal requirement.

Codi M. Dada Law Office P.C. can help you discuss the health-care agent appointment and how it fits with your planning goals. The next step is to arrange a conversation about your choices and the distinctions you want to address.