[New] The Importance of Advance Directives

situation with doctors, obtain medical reports, and discuss plans of care.

A living will is a companion document to the health care proxy and is intended to state your wishes if you should be in an irreversible condition with no reasonable expectation of recovery. It is meant to direct the substituted decisionmaker in their actions. The living will often directs an agent to withhold or withdraw treatments if recovery is not expected. The document can list specific treatments to be withheld, such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation, dialysis, antibiotics, etc.

It is essential that your documents include agent(s) that would respect your wishes when unable to speak for yourself. Having such documents executed is crucial for peace of mind and clear direction in an otherwise stressful time. Seeking the advice of an Elder Law attorney when making these decisions can ensure your wishes are made clear to those that will be making the hard decisions.

Britt Burner, Esq. is a partner at Burner Law Group, P.C. focusing her practice areas on Estate Planning, Elder Law and Trusts and Estates. Burner Law Group P.C. serves clients from Manhattan to the east end of Long Island with offices located in East Setauket, Westhampton Beach, New York City and East Hampton.