What kind of healthcare decisions do you want to be made on your behalf in the event that you become incapacitated? An Advance Healthcare Directive allows you to express your wishes regarding important healthcare decisions. When you have an advance health care directive, you can rest assured that your family knows your position on issues like life-sustaining treatment, end-of-life care, and pain management. An Advance Healthcare Directive does not designate your healthcare agent, however. Instead, your Durable Power Of Attorney for healthcare authorizes someone you trust to make medical decisions on your behalf if you are unable to communicate. Without a valid directive and Durable Power Of Attorney in place, even close family members may be left uncertain about your preferences and who will be your voice. Worse, they may face legal hurdles and emotional conflict during an already stressful time.
ELG Estate Planning helps Liberty Lake residents craft customized advance healthcare directives to guide their loved ones should they be faced with your incapacity and end-of-life wishes. Whether you’re planning ahead or responding to a recent diagnosis, our team is here to ensure your voice is heard. Contact us today to find out how we can help you create an advance health care directive.
Advance Healthcare Directives are recognized under Washington law. An Advance Healthcare Directive allows you to provide written instructions about your medical care in the event that you can’t communicate your wishes yourself. Advance Healthcare Directives primarily deal with preferences related to end-of-life treatment. You can specify your wishes as to life-sustaining procedures, resuscitation, and artificial nutrition and hydration.
An Advance Healthcare Directive is often referred to as a Living Will. And it commonly is paired with a Durable Power Of Attorney for healthcare.
Advance Healthcare Directives are sometimes confused with a DNR (Do Not Resuscitate order) or POLST (Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment). DNR and POLST are medical orders. They’re typically issued by a doctor for patients with serious illnesses. In contrast, an Advance Healthcare Directive is a planning document created in advance, applicable to a range of future scenarios—not just those involving imminent death.
In short, an Advance Healthcare Directive ensures that your preferences are legally documented and respected by both medical providers and loved ones.
To be legally enforceable, an AHD must be:
In writing
Signed by the declarer (the person making the directive)
Witnessed by two competent adults or a notary public.
There are strict limitations on who may serve as a witness. For example, persons who may not serve as witnesses include:
Your healthcare provider or attending physician
Employees of a healthcare facility where you are currently receiving treatment or residing
Anyone who stands to benefit financially from your death, such as heirs or beneficiaries
Your directive must be created voluntarily and without coercion, free of outside pressure.
While Advance Healthcare Directives do not expire, it is recommended that you review and update yours periodically. Reviewing after major life changes or a new diagnosis help you make sure that your instructions reflect your current wishes.
Advance Healthcare Directives include your specific instructions regarding end-of-life medical care in the event you are unable to communicate your wishes. For example, you can express your wishes about:
Artificial respiration and life support systems
Feeding tubes and intravenous hydration, especially when used solely to prolong life
Pain management and palliative care
These choices are deeply personal. Some people prioritize extending life at all costs, while others may wish to avoid prolonged suffering or invasive interventions if their recovery is unlikely. Because preferences vary, it’s important to plan ahead and make sure your loved ones know your position on these medical issues. It’s not just for your benefit: an Advance Healthcare Directive provides instructions so that your loved ones don’t have to make difficult decisions by guessing what you would have wanted.
A Durable Power Of Attorney for healthcare (POA) allows you to designate someone to make medical decisions on your behalf if you are incapacitated.
Your healthcare agent can be any competent adult who understands your values and will advocate for your preferences. People commonly choose their spouses, close friends, or family members. The agent’s authority may include consenting to or refusing treatment, accessing medical records, choosing healthcare providers or facilities, and working with your care team during a crisis.
It’s also wise to name a successor to serve as a backup agent. Life is unpredictable, and your primary choice may be unavailable or unwilling to help.
If you’re not sure who to choose as your healthcare agent, ELG Estate Planning can help. We can guide you through the selection process and help you inform your agent. This helps set expectations and prepares them for what they might need to do if you become incapacitated.
Your Advance Healthcare Directive may change throughout your lifetime, especially if you get married, have children, or witness a loved one’s experience with end-of-life care. That’s why it’s important to periodically review your Advance Healthcare Directive and make sure it still reflects your wishes. When you update your Advance Healthcare Directive, you’ll need to revoke the old one.
You can revoke an Advance Healthcare Directive by destroying the original, signing a written revocation, and verbally notifying your healthcare provider. If you’re not sure how to revoke and update yourAdvance Healthcare Directive, the estate planning attorneys at ELG Estate Planning can help you update your directive and provide instruction about who to notify.
Even if you’re certain that your loved ones understand your healthcare wishes, it’s still important to have an Advance Healthcare Directive. Common challenges without these documents include:
Family conflict over care decisions during high-stress situations
Medical providers may be unsure whose guidance to follow
Risk of unwanted treatments, prolonged suffering, or guardianship proceedings
Delayed treatment and increased emotional strain on loved ones
Proactively avoiding these situations provides peace of mind for everyone involved.
ELG Estate Planning offers personalized, capable and compassionate guidance to anyone navigating complex healthcare decisions. Our team can create legally valid documents that align with your personal values and long-term goals.
Our attorneys can integrate your Advance Healthcare Directive into a comprehensive estate plan. Coordinating these documents with Wills, Trusts, and Powers Of Attorney helps create consistency. In turn, this can prevent legal or medical confusion. We also can the time to educate healthcare agents, helping them understand their authority, responsibilities, and limitations.
Continuity of care is at the heart of what we do. If you’re interested in creating or updating an Advance Healthcare Directive —especially in the greater context of your comprehensive estate plan—call us today for a consultation. Our team will be happy to listen to your goals and guide you toward compliant and helpful solutions.
When you’re ready to create or update your Advance Healthcare Directive, call ELG Estate Planning. Our compassionate Advance Healthcare Directive attorneys serving Liberty Lake are available to find smart solutions for all your advance planning needs. Contact us today to schedule an initial consultation, and let’s discuss how we can help you achieve your estate planning needs.
