Your Medical Directive

Any complete estate plan should include a medical directive. This term encompasses both a durable power of attorney for health care and an advance health care directive (or "living will").

A durable power of attorney for health care permits you to designate someone you choose to make health care decisions for you if you are unable to do so yourself. An advanced health care directive instructs your health care provider to withdraw life support if you are terminally ill or in a vegetative state. A broader medical directive may include the terms of an advanced health care directive, as well as providing instructions if you are in a less severe state of health, but are still unable to direct your health care yourself.