An advance health care directive is an estate planning document that outlines your preferences for medical care if you are unable to communicate. However, as your life changes, so might your wishes.
Ideally, it is wise to review your advance directive documents regularly to help ensure that they reflect your wishes. They should also be scrutinized and potentially updated amid significant life events like the following.
Major health changes
Experiencing a significant change in health, such as a debilitating injury or chronic illness can alter your treatment priorities. For instance, a stroke or a diagnosis of dementia may lead you to reconsider how much life-prolonging intervention you want. Revisiting your directive documents helps you rest easy knowing that they align with your present circumstances.
A terminal diagnosis
Learning that you suffer from a terminal illness brings decisions about treatment and end-of-life care into sharp focus. You might wish to specify your preferences regarding palliative care, hospice and whether you want to forgo aggressive treatments in favor of comfort measures.
A review and update helps ensure that your health care team and loved ones understand and honor your choices during such a critical time.
Shift in values or beliefs
Over time, your perspectives on end-of-life care may evolve due to personal experiences, spiritual growth or exposure to others’ medical journeys. For example, you might develop strong feelings about pain management, organ donation or the use of life-sustaining technology. These shifts should be reflected in your documents to maintain their accuracy and relevance.
With seasoned estate planning guidance, you can implement medical treatment and end-of-life directives that reflect your preferences and can “speak” for you if you can’t speak for yourself.
