Adding advance directives to your estate plan helps to ensure your healthcare preferences are respected when you cannot communicate them. They are legal documents that provide clear instructions on your medical care, helping to alleviate the burden on loved ones during difficult times.
Here is an overview of advance directives every Oklahoma resident should know about.
What can these instructions cover?
They can be tailored to align with your beliefs, morals and preferences, covering several essential elements.
- Living will: Outlines your wishes regarding life-sustaining treatments if you are terminally ill or in a persistent vegetative state. It can specify whether you want life-prolonging measures, such as mechanical ventilation or resuscitation or artificial nutrition and hydration.
- Health care proxy: Also known as a durable power of attorney for healthcare, this option allows you to appoint someone to make medical decisions for you upon incapacitation.
- Do not resuscitate (DNR) order: This directive indicates that you do not want to undergo CPR or other resuscitative measures if your heart or breathing stops.
Additionally, you can specify your wishes regarding organ and tissue donation in your advance directives.
Choosing the right health care proxy
The person you select will have the authority to make healthcare decisions on your behalf, so make certain to choose someone you trust implicitly. Here are some factors to consider:
- Reliability and willingness to honor your wishes
- Proximity and the ability to respond on short notice
- Ability to communicate effectively with medical providers and family
It is just as vital to be sure your proxy can handle stressful situations calmly and make decisions under pressure.
Someone with a background in Oklahoma estate planning laws can offer personalized guidance with your advance medical directives.