If a parent becomes incapacitated, adult children are frequently called upon to serve as healthcare advocates for their parents. Advance care planning is the ongoing process that includes discussion, reflection upon and preparation for future medical decisions based on personal values.
An advance care directive, a legal document resulting from this process, records those wishes, and are widely promoted as a tool to ease the decision-making burden. This legal document allow individuals to communicate their preferences for future medical care in the event they can no longer express their wishes. Advance directives typically include two key components: end-of-life decisions and a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care (DPAHC). End-of-life decisions enable individuals to specify which treatments they would accept or refuse near the end of life, while a DPAHC authorizes another person to make medical decisions on their behalf if they become incapacitated.
Advance care planning can promote autonomy, dignity and a sense of control over future medical care, while increasing the likelihood that treatment aligns with personal preferences. However, the presence of an advance directive does not necessarily improve family dynamics after a parent’s death or prevent conflict among surviving adult children.
YIM & YEMPUKU, LLLC – Estate Planning Attorneys
2054 S. Beretania St., Honolulu, HI 96826
808-524-0251 | yimandyempukulaw.com
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