Skip to Content

We are a Veteran Owned Business, providing 20% discounts for Veterans, First Responders, Elementary and High School teachers. Please contact us to set up a phone or Zoom meeting. Taking care of you and your family, It's What We Do!

Coronavirus and Living Will

Posted on Mon Mar 9, 2020, on Medical Power of Attorney Living Will

From Our “Ask a Question” Mailbag: “I am worried about the coronavirus and living will. Should I update my Living Will? Just in case, what should I do?”

Coronavirus and Living Will

Peter Klenk, Living Will Lawyer.

Coronavirus and Living Will.

To be prepared for any illness that may leave you unable to speak for yourself, here is a quick checklist:

1. Review Your Medical Power of Attorney, Medical Directive, Living Will.

These names have become interchangeable to most people. Review whatever document you have and make sure that it names a “Surrogate” or “Agent” to speak for you if you are incapacitated.  Your doctor may need permission to try a new treatment, surgery, or to move you to a new facility. This document gives your trusted person the legal right to make these authorizations.

2. Share Your Medical Wishes With Your Surrogate.

You ask your Agent or Surrogate to carry out your wishes. But, if you don’t share your ideas and requests with the Surrogate, they cannot help you.  The Surrogate is supposed to step into your shoes, listen to the doctor, and review all the medical data as if they were you. Then, they are to tell the doctor what you would do with this information. 

For example, would you have the surgery or not?  Would you want a second opinion or not? And, in the end, would you decide to stop treatment?  These decisions are difficult for your Surrogate. They are double, so if they have to guess on your medical philosophy.

Your Agent should also carry out your wishes with regards to organ donation. If you arrive at the hospital and are a known organ doner, does your Surrogate understand your intentions? Some people only want to donate eyes or specific organs. Others could care less, take it all! Make sure your Surrogate knows your wishes.

3. Share the Medical Power of Attorney with the Agent. Electronically!

Your Surrogate cannot help you if they don’t have the document. In today’s world, that means providing the Surrogate with a scanned copy, which they can then keep on their computer or phone.

For example, what if you are in the hospital and your Surrogate is on vacation in Paris?  Having a hard copy in a drawer at home does neither of you any good. But, if your Surrogate has a copy on their phone, they can text it to the nurse’s station and start helping.

Provide a copy to your regular doctor also. They should add it to your electronic records for easy access. Further, have a copy on your fridge door. Ambulance crews regularly look there for relevant documents.

We provide our clients with an internet portal allowing them 24-hour worldwide access to their documents.  Having such easy access makes sharing electronic copies easy. Plus, if your children ages 18 or over have given you their Medical Power of Attorney, the portal is an excellent storage area. If your children have an emergency, you can access the document no matter where you are.

More Detail.

For more detailed information about Medical Powers of Attorney (Coronavirus and Living Wills), read my Article “Living Wills and Medical Powers of Attorney, All You Need To Know.”

In Conclusion: Coronavirus and Living Wills.

I hope you found helpful this short article about the Coronavirus and Living Wills. Also, I have included some links for more detailed information. Are you curious about having us draft a living will?  Contact us. Let our Estate Planning Lawyers walk you through this confusing process. Furthermore, feel free to contact our office for a free consultation. 

Wills, Trusts, Probate, and Estate Litigation, It’s All We Do!

It’s What We Do!

Tags:

Living Will, Medical Power of Attorney

Peter KlenkPeter Klenk

What Our clients are saying

Klenk Law Logo
Stars

AJK

Peter has done our family's trust and estate work since our children were born. He is not only extremely knowledgeable and honest but makes sure that our arrangements remain current with the changing legal landscape. I would give him my highest recommendation as a professional in his field.

Klenk Law Logo
Stars

Ronald W.

Peter and his staff are very responsive and always willing to help my clients and in a cost efficient manner.

Klenk Law Logo
Stars

Michael Patete

Surprisingly easy

Klenk Law Logo
Stars

Sheldon P.

Everything about my experience was a 10+! Peter and his staff made what I thought would be a difficult process easy and understandable. Every detail was handled correctly. No other firm could possibly do better than Klenk Law!

Klenk Law Logo
Stars

Nafeesha. B

When it came down to picking the right attorney to handle my affairs, I knew right away it was this firm. From speaking to their secretary to speaking to Peter I knew I was making the right decision. After only a few mins Peter knew right away what I was looking for and handled all my questions professionally and even gave me great feedback that put my mind at ease. All that without even giving a single penny! So of course I hired him! So far so good...

Let us put our expertise to work for you.

Free consultation within 24 hours.