A North Dakota estate plan can include documents that address emergency scenarios, not just death. Individuals facing major medical challenges or preparing for retirement may want to draft health care directives to clarify their wishes and medical preferences to others.
The state provides an in-depth document with three separate, distinct sections that can help people ensure they retain control over their care even if they become incapable of communicating with others. What specific issues can people address in their health care directives?
1. Choosing a health care agent
Also known as a medical proxy, a health care agent is a person specifically empowered to guide the care provided to an incapacitated individual. Selecting a responsible and trustworthy person and an alternate in case they are unavailable can help ensure there is someone to advocate for the party drafting the documents.
2. Clear information about preferences
The health care directive form used in North Dakota actually provides more than just basic guidelines for specific medical procedures. People can explain their religious beliefs and concerns about different medical matters. In addition to guiding specific decisions, they can provide insight for their agent to use when making unexpected decisions.
3. Instructions for anatomical gifts
Few questions cause more stress for spouses, children and other family members than whether or not to make an anatomical donation at the end of a person’s life. Sometimes, family members make the wrong choice because they are unsure of an individual’s wishes. Clarifying personal preferences can take pressure off of family members in a tragic scenario.
Adding a health care directive to an estate plan can help people ensure they receive appropriate care and can protect their loved ones from remorse and unnecessary conflict. Most adults benefit from preparing in advance for future emergencies when estate planning.