Dependable Advice about Advance Directives in Ohio
Few people exactly look forward to planning for the possibility that they might end up in a coma, persistent vegetative state or other situation that raises the prospect of open-ended life support. At the same time, nobody wants to be on either side of the dispute that raged in Terry Schiavo's family several years ago, where her husband and her parents could not agree about continuing life support after an accident that left her unable to express her own treatment preferences.
An advance directive would have anticipated and avoided the Schiavo family's painful and protracted battle by making sure that Terry's own preferences were clearly expressed and respected as her chances of a meaningful recovery grew increasingly remote. If you would like to spare your family the difficulty and uncertainty of making critical life support decisions for you, contact a knowledgeable estate planning lawyer at the Law Office of Margaret H. Kreiner. We have served the needs of Akron area families with insight and compassion for more than 20 years, and we can help your family as well.
Under Ohio law, an advance directive consists of two documents: a health care power of attorney, designating a health care agent to make medical treatment decisions on your behalf if you cannot do so; and a living will, specifying your wishes in the event of a terminal illness or a permanently unconscious state. Both "terminally ill" and "permanently unconscious state" are defined terms under Ohio law, and require the agreement of two physicians that they apply to a given patient's case.
If either of these conditions is confirmed by the two physicians, your physician is then authorized to follow your wishes in your living will, including the decision to terminate life support, in a manner consistent with the preferences expressed in the living will.
Our attorneys will work closely with you and your family to ensure that you have thought through your advance directive, that you have named a health care agent who is capable of fulfilling the serious responsibilities set forth in the power of attorney for health care, and that your living will clearly expresses your own ideas and values about life support under a range of circumstances.
Planning ahead to avoid end-of-life disputes between family members is one of the most loving and thoughtful gifts you can give your family. It is also the only sure way to make certain that your own wishes are respected and implemented. If you change your mind about any aspect of your advance directive, you can amend it at any time, provided you are still competent.
To learn more about our experience with advance directives and living wills under Ohio law, contact a skilled estate planning attorney at the Law Office of Margaret H. Kreiner in Cuyahoga Falls.
