Choose a Health-Care Decision Maker in Los Alamitos

Start with the person, not the form

Consider whether a prospective agent can understand your priorities, communicate them clearly, and handle a difficult conversation with other people involved in your care. Familiarity alone may not answer those questions. Someone close to you might be a good choice, but the important discussion is whether that person understands the role you have in mind and is willing to take it on.

Think through more than one possible choice. If the person you first consider is unavailable or unable to serve, an alternate may help address that possibility. Discuss the arrangement with each person you are considering rather than assuming that a family relationship means they understand your wishes or are prepared to act.

• Who is likely to listen carefully and communicate your priorities accurately?
• Would your first choice be comfortable speaking with others involved in your care?
• Who could be an alternate if your first choice cannot act?
• Are there relationships or disagreements that could make a different choice more practical?

Clarify what you want your agent to understand

A health-care directive can designate an agent for health-care decisions. Choosing the person is only part of the planning conversation: you may also want to discuss how that person should communicate with loved ones and how they can understand your preferences when decisions arise.

Keep the appointment of an agent distinct from written treatment preferences. Ask yourself what you want a person to decide on your behalf and what preferences you want recorded in writing. These are related planning topics, but discussing one does not answer every question about the other. This page focuses on selecting and preparing a decision maker, not on recommending medical care or choosing particular treatments.

• What values or priorities do you want the person to keep in mind?
• How should the person handle conversations with family members who may see things differently?
• What preferences do you want to discuss separately from naming an agent?

Keep health-care and financial authority separate

A health-care agent and a person with financial authority are not automatically serving the same role. California court self-help information distinguishes financial authority from health-care authority. Do not assume that a financial power of attorney, beneficiary arrangement, or other financial document identifies who may make health-care decisions.

As you review existing arrangements, make a simple list of the person named for each purpose and the question that document is meant to address. If the same person has been chosen for more than one role, confirm that this reflects your intention rather than an assumption that one appointment covers everything.

• Which document or arrangement addresses health-care decisions?
• Which one addresses financial matters?
• Do the people named understand which role you are asking them to take on?

Prepare for a focused planning conversation

Before meeting with Codi M. Dada Law Office P.C., write down your preferred agent and alternates, any concerns about family communication, and the preferences you want to discuss separately. Bring or identify any existing planning documents that may name a decision maker, so the conversation can focus on what each arrangement is intended to do.

The firm has one in-person office in Novato and provides virtual services throughout California, including for people in Los Alamitos. A planning conversation can help you identify unresolved choices and understand how health-care authority differs from financial authority. The useful next step is to clarify your choices and questions before deciding how to proceed.