What Advance Medical Directives Should I Have in Place If I’m Concerned About COVID-19?

47 East Grove Street | Middleborough, Massachusetts 02346

CALL US 508-923-7207 800-640-2889

Though it’s always been true, the COVID-19 pandemic has driven home the point that a debilitating medical condition can strike without warning. Whether you’re fighting the coronavirus or are incapacitated for some other reason, your wishes regarding medical treatment should be honored by family members and healthcare providers. An experienced attorney can help you put the necessary advance directives in place and help you understand what best suits your needs.

The urgency and danger associated with the coronavirus have motivated many people to consider creating or reviewing documents such as living wills, healthcare proxies and power of attorney documents. If you want to protect your ability to control the care you receive even if you’re unable to communicate, here are some things you should know:

Advance directives help you and your family — Every person deserves the right to determine what type of health care he or she receives. Without setting forth clear instructions, doctors and loved ones might be forced to speculate as to the decisions you’d make. In addition to the financial burden linked to end-of-life care and other grave medical circumstances, disputes among family members about what to do could be emotionally excruciating.
You have options — Many people associate advance directives with living wills, which state what types of extraordinary medical measures a person wants to be used in order to prolong their life in a dire situation. Other types of advance directives exist as well, such as healthcare proxy documents that designate someone to make medical decisions on your behalf if you cannot express your preferences. You might also consider a power of attorney or similar document that grants someone the authority to handle financial matters if you’re felled by an injury or illness.
An attorney can help — States have specific rules on advance directives and an attorney familiar with these issues can outline what works where you live. Your advance directives become active as soon as you sign them and stay active until you legally change them. Make sure you have multiple copies and store the originals in a place that anyone can access. Remember, locking a key document away will not help if no one can access it.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a lot of pain and confusion to for all of us. Though discussing worst-case scenarios is never easy, current events have prompted meaningful conversations. With the assistance of a dedicated lawyer, you can turn your intentions into legally binding instructions. You will see that developing a sound advance medical directive helps you take a little control back during this uncertain time.

Contact a qualified attorney to discuss the creation of an advance medical directive

The Studley Law Offices helps clients prepare and revise living wills and other types of advance medical directives. Please call 508-923-7207 or contact the firm online to speak with a qualified attorney about your concerns.

By John E. Studley Jr. | Published May 19, 2020 | Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged COVID-19, estate planning

CLIENT REVIEWS & TESTIMONIAL HIGHLIGHTS

"John Studley helped me thru a very difficult time in my life. He explained everything to me and made me feel independent in my decisions. He got me more than I expected. Thanks to You and your team." - Diane - December 9, 2016
"I completely agree with a prior reviewer...a complete class act! He is highly efficient, extremely knowledgeable, personable, totally professional, highly successful and very entertaining. I have dealt with Atty. Studley on a few matters over the course of 12 years and he (and his staff!) have consistently provided the time and means to successfully litigate my cases/issues. I was fortunate enough that he was referred to me and I have had absolutely no regrets. If you're looking for the best, he's the person to hire." - L - December 1, 2016
"Posted by Michelle September 16, 2015 John Studley is a true class act. I have been a client of his since 2008. He puts the needs of the child first and foremost. He is direct and honest with his clients in a compassionate manner. I would highly recommend Studley Law Offices. I have great faith in John, Sandy and the rest of the team and I remain truly greatful for all of their hard work." - Michelle - September 16, 2015
"Attorney Studley and his staff are exceptional! They all are very professional, courteous, efficient and empathetic for our case. Attorney Studley knew the "ins and outs" of the laws and was able to implement them in our case. He was always available to us in a timely manner. He explained various situations and avenues we needed to explore. He provided us with the information we needed to move forward in our case. Attorney Studley was always prepared for any situation in court. He even had copies of documents that the judge did not have available to him during court proceedings. We have already recommended him to a fellow grandparent and would do so again." - Bev - August 31, 2015
"John Studley is very professional. I would highly recommend him to anyone who needs a lawyer. He kept me informed by promptly responding to my emails and phone calls." - Roger - January 31, 2015
"John and his staff were very professional from the beginning. He is very persistent and thorough. My case took over a year to settle but his staff had to do a lot of research. They constantly kept me in the loop as to how the case was progressing. I would not hesitate to use his services again." - Ron - August 21, 2014
"John helped my family in a difficult child custody case. His excellent work was instrumental in saving my granddaughters from ongoing physical and mental abuse." - Tom - August 12, 2014
"This was my first experience dealing with a lawyer. I found John Studley to be very professional in dealing with my case. He explained everything to me in detail and his knowledge of the law reassured me that my case was justified. I had complete trust in him as he was confident and I would highly recommend him to any person in need a lawyer. John dealt with my personal injury case. He set up appointments with Doctors, Neurologists and Physical therapists for me. He and his team were very responsive in returning my phone calls and communicated all correspondence in this matter. He showed a compassion for my health and well being during a difficult time in my life. He was instrumental in facilitating a fair settlement in my case." - Brian - February 21, 2014
"John Studley has been my attorney for over 20 years and has never disappointed me. He is, in my opinion the best lawyer you could have. Rest assured that if you have Attorney Studley for your lawyer he will definitelyl do the best that he can do for you. He definitely is a cut above the rest..." - Edna - February 11, 2014