Estate planning can also have a more comprehensive focus on advance medical directives-documents prepared to manage a client’s possible incapacity.
Advance directives include living wills, health care surrogate designations, directives to a physicians and advance directives for mental health matters.
A living will expresses to doctors and others a person’s wishes regarding the use of life-sustaining medical procedures under three conditions in Florida: an end stage condition, a terminal condition and a persistent vegetative state. A living will is not a substitute for heath care surrogate or durable medical power of attorney.
A health care surrogate designation or health care power of attorney is a powerful document that can be used by your the person you name to assist you when you are unable to make your own medical decisions.