Right now, people are understandably concerned about their health and the health of their loved ones. When a crisis comes, people want to know that they and the people they care about will be taken care of if they are unable to make their own healthcare decisions. It’s for these types of emergencies that you should consider a healthcare proxy.
A healthcare proxy is an advance directive, a legal arrangement that comes into effect in the event that you are unable to make important medical decisions for yourself. A healthcare proxy grants someone else, appointed by you, the right to make healthcare decisions on your behalf, should you become unable to make those decisions. This includes decisions concerning whether to administer a certain type of treatment or perform a particular surgery, or, in the worst-case scenario, whether to stop treatment for your medical issues and move to palliative care.
While no one hopes to be in a situation where a healthcare proxy may be necessary, it’s often better to be safe rather than sorry. Without a healthcare proxy, it will fall either to your next of kin or, if none are available, a court-appointed guardian to make these healthcare decisions should you become incapacitated. For some people, this may be a perfectly reasonable situation, but for many, this would mean placing their care in the hands of someone they don’t know they can trust to make the best possible decisions for them. A healthcare proxy will make sure you are cared for, even if you can no longer care for yourself.
If you or a loved one are dealing with legal issues related to forming a healthcare proxy, or any other issue related to elder law, you’ll need specialized legal advice. The attorneys at Hobson-Williams, P.C. are skilled in all aspects of elder law, and are dedicated to representing clients with diligence and compassion. To speak to an attorney or to schedule a consultation, call 866-825-1LAW.
Written by Tanya Hobson-Williams
Appointed to the bench by the Board of Trustees in 2008, and elected in 2009, Tanya Hobson-Williams was the first African-American Female Justice in the Incorporated Village of Hempstead. Tanya Hobson–Williams obtained her B.A. in Government and Politics from St. John’s University and her law degree from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law.
Tanya Hobson-Williams has an active elder law practice assisting senior citizens in obtaining Medicaid for Home Care and Nursing Home Care. She routinely lectures at senior citizen centers, assisted living facilities, law schools and counsels families on a variety of topics of concerns to families caring for the elderly.
